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Full Of Beans

Delectable bean dishes from around the world

By Rasma RaistersPublished 3 years ago 7 min read
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Europe

France

Cassoulet is a traditional bean and meat dish originating in southwest France. The dish has three versions and each is a dish on its own. The dish was named for the dish in which it is prepared, a cassole.

The dish is braised in a glazed terracotta casserole pot on low heat for hours. The meat and beans have to be melt in your mouth tender. One version of cassoulet comes from Castelnaudary where the dish is prepared with white kidney beans and pork like smoked ham, spicy sausage, and pork shoulder.

Cassoulet de Carcassone is prepared with chunks of mutton, lamb, partridge, or quail and Cassoulet Tolousain is made with duck or goose confit and beans and spices. All of these versions also include white beans.

This is a French comfort food usually enjoyed on a cold winter day and served with a full-bodied red wine.

Greece

Fasolada is a traditional Greek soup that is prepared with dried white beans that have been drizzled with olive oil and are eaten with vegetables and herbs like onions, barley, celery, and tomatoes. This is a dish that is a reminder from antiquity since barley, olives, and beans were the three crops that sustained the armies of Alexander the Great.

Fasolada is a dish that is traditionally eaten during Lent when Orthodox Christians have a religious fast. The name of the dish comes from the word fasoli which means beans.

Georgia

Created in Georgia, Lobio refers to a wide group of dishes that are prepared with beans as the key ingredient. Usually, red kidney beans are boiled with spices to make a thick stew that is served with mchadi, a traditional Georgian cornbread.

Other varieties such as lobio nigozit include mashed beans in a thick walnut sauce. The dish can also be served cold in the form of a salad with whole or mashed beans.

Turkey

Kuru fasulye refers to dried beans that have been soaked and cooked with sauteed chopped onions, green peppers, tomatoes, and salsa or tomato paste. This is a traditional Turkish white bean stew and can also be enriched with meat like lamb.

Asure or Noah's pudding is supposedly one of the oldest desserts in the world. This is a mix of fruits, nuts, and beans. In variations, it can be prepared with dried figs and apricots, golden raisins, currants, hazelnuts, pine nuts, walnuts, chickpeas, white kidney beans, and bulgur, barley, or wheat. Its wonderful aroma comes from lemon or orange zest.

Asia

China

Mooncake is an ancient Chinese delicacy that is eaten during the Mid-August Festival or Moon Festival. This is a pastry similar to a pie prepared with a shortcrust base known as yueh ping and filled with black sesame or lotus seed paste, red beans, roasted pork, mung beans, dates, and salted duck egg yolks.

Today mooncakes are available in many different variations with both savory and sweet fillings even using fruit like honeydew, litchi, or pineapple. Other ingredients used are chocolate or mixed nuts, abalone, seaweed, green tea, and even cream cheese or ice cream, The round shape of this pastry resembles the full moon and is a symbol of return or a full circle that in Chinese philosophy stands for fulfilment, oneness, perfection, and unity.

Japan

Taiyaki is a dish from Japan that is a fish-shaped cake. It is usually eaten as a snack and is prepared with flour and filled with azuki sweet bean paste. Taiyaki is usually served warm and particularly lat any winter festival.

Supposedly this sweet treat originated in Tokyo during the Meiji era. It became very popular in 1976 with the beloved children's song "Oyogel."

India

Rajma chawal is an Indian dish prepared with red beans and cooked rice. It is traditionally made with onions and tomato puree, making a gravy for the beans. It is a vegetarian meal that can be eaten for lunch or dinner.

Rajma chawal can be made with a variety of spices like chilli peppers, cinnamon, bay leaves, ginger, garlic, coriander, and cumin.

Israel

Falafel is a dish with chickpea fritter and one of the national dishes in Israel. However, It is possible this dish originated in Egypt, Lebanon, or Palestine. Yemenite immigrants began making falafel in the streets to make a living in the 1950s. They wrapped the falafel in paper and eventually this ancient dish turned into an early kind of fast food in Israel.

The version in Israel used fava beans instead of chickpeas and is flavored with parsley, coriander, cumin, and onions. Today falafel fritters are eaten in pita or lafa flatbread as sandwiches and topped with fresh or pickled vegetables. They can be coated in hummus paste, tahini dip, or a zesty, garlic yogurt sauce.

Africa

Morocco

Moroccan loubia is a traditional dish prepared with stewed white beans. The beans are simmered in a zesty tomato sauce and usually served with Morrocan bread. This comfort food can be served as an appetizer, garnished with coriander or parsley or as a side dish accompanied by fried fish.

Nigeria

Moin moin is a Nigerian dish that is prepared with ground beans or black-eyed beans, onions, oil, and freshly ground pepper like chilli, bell pepper, and Scotch bonnet. It comes out like a steamed bean cake. The dish is served accompanied by jollot rice, fried plantains, and akamu. It can also be served as a snack and is served at celebrations and on special occasions.

Maharagwe is a popular African dish prepared by stweing red beans that are boiled with coconut milk, cardamon, cinnamon, onion, tomatoes, garlic, curry powder, chilli peppers, and green peppers.

The dish is usually served with chapati bread or ugali. Muharagwe has Indina influences in its prepartaion.

North America

Mexico

Mollete is a traditonal sandwhich originating in northern Mexico. A bolillo bread roll is halved and topped with refried beans, cheese, and tomato salsa. The sandwich is sold all over Mexico in coffee shops, restaurants, and at street food stalls.

Mollete has roots in Andalusia, Spain where it is made with a rustic, oval shaped bread and eaten for breakfast. The Spanish version is served with olive oil, tomatoes, and garlic, In southern parts of the country the sandwhich is served with pico de gallo and topped with bacon and mushrooms.

Central America

Costa Rica

Gallo pinto or just pinto is a traditional national Costa Rican dish. It is prepared with cooked and fried rice and beans mixed with herbs and vegetables like cilantro, peppers, celery, and onions.

The name of the dish means spotted rooster and refers to the fact that the dish with beans and rice has a spotted kind of look. It is usually served as a side dish for breakfast, lunch or dinner. At breakfast it can be accompanied by eggs or meat.

South America

Brazil

Feijoada or feijoada completa is the national dish of Brazil prepared with smoked pork and black beans making a hearty stew, Accompaniements to the dish usually are sauteed greens, cheese rolls, rice, and fresh sliced oranges.

Traditionally feijoada is prepared for Saturday lunch. The black beans are flavored with onions, tomatoes, coriander, and garlic. The smoked pork can be enriched with dried beef and smoked pork sausages. Before the main meal is served caldinho de feijao, a bean broth is served in shot glasses or small ceramic cups and garnished with pork rinds called torresmos.

Peru

Tacu-tacu is a Peruvian dish that is prepared with rice, beans, different spices, and onions. The ingredients are pan-fried and formed into a thick, pancake-type dish.

Variations on this dish can include lentils. The dish is usually served with a fried egg on top or breaded and fried meat, fried plantains, and onion salsa criolla on the side.

Venezuela

Arepa is cornbread prepared with ground corn dough or precooked corn flour, It can be eaten at any time of the day. The dish has a crispy, browned crust and is stuffed with different ingredients like beans, cheese, and avocado or shredded beef and onions. The Veneauelan breakfast arepas are served with strong coffee and hot dipping chocolate.

cuisine
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About the Creator

Rasma Raisters

My passions are writing and creating poetry. I write for several sites online and have four themed blogs on Wordpress. Please follow me on Twitter.

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