Exploits of a Vegan Wannabe

Dried Lupini beans look like Lima beans. They are flat and slightly yellow or cream in color. They are most commonly sold in brine and consumed as a snack food. Think-yellow Edamame that tastes more like roasted Macadamia nuts. They are more dense than all other beans even when cooked so they really are the bean that eats like a snack food or meal. They are the craziest thing and absolutely delicious to munch on.

Part of the fun is popping the bean out of its waxy shell before you eat it. I have been told that the coolest way to consume them is by popping the bean out of its shell while in your mouth and then spitting out the shell. This is most likely coming from the same people that tie maraschino cherry stems with their teeth. I usually rock out a utilitarian combination of using my teeth and my hands to free the bean and then eat it. No matter, they taste just as good without the theatrics. Think of how fun this will be a at your next cocktail party.  They are addicting like chips or pistachios.

Photo by: S. Duquet

The first time I had a Lupini Bean was at a holiday celebration of a very large Italian family. This was their thing…it had always been there thing. What do you mean you have never had a Lupini Bean? I tried them one other time from a Italian specialty store but they were SO salty that my guilt level in consuming them was far greater than the enjoyment level, so I never gave them another thought. Until…..the other day at the market when my new love affair with dried beans was beginning to mature and flourish.  That is when I found the dried Lupini Beans. If you make them yourself you can control the salt.

The beans need to be soaked, cooked and soaked again for an additional week or two to draw out their bitter alkaloids. It is as easy as changing your Britta water filter. You don’t have to think about it and once they are ready to eat, you have a delicious, nutritious (albeit salty) snack food to enjoy that is SUPER inexpensive. They are second only to soybeans in protein content.

Make it Happen

~ Soak your dried Lupini beans in enough water to cover overnight

~Drain and rinse. Put beans in stock pot and cover with a lot of water water. Bring to boil and immediately reduce heat. Let simmer for one hour and fifteen minutes. Drain and let cool.

~Put beans in a fridge safe container that has a lid. Cover with fresh water and sprinkle with one and a half tablespoons of sea salt.

~Drain and cover with fresh water and salt every day for 7 days. Taste the bean. If it is yummy, salty, delicious and no longer bitter, they are done. Keep in your fridge and indulge whenever you need a  protein packed pick me up.

Have a delicious day.

*The soaking and draining method I started with was from: http://www.recipetips.com/

*http://www.lupins.org/lupins/ has a ton of interesting information on the nutritional power house abilities of the Lupini.

*I found the nutritional info  about Lupini beans at: http://www.lupini.us/

Tags: 30 day challenge, compassionate eating, lupini beans, trying vegan, trying vegetarian, vegan, vegan challenge, vegan experience, vegan recipe, vegan snack food