Removing broad beans from their shells is an extremely annoying task that makes the preparation significantly more time-consuming compared to other beans. During the endless puling process, some people are probably wondering whether the peel can simply be eaten. Under certain circumstances this is actually possible.
Can you eat the shell of broad beans?
The shell of broad beans can be eaten if they are young, green, as it is still soft. Older, tough shells should be removed. In any case, broad beans should be cooked before consumption to break down toxic lectins and phytic acid.
Can the shell of broad beans be eaten?
In most cases, the shell of the broad beanscannot be eaten because it is tough and fibrous. On the other hand, the shell of young beans is still soft and green. It does not need to be removed and can be eaten without any problem. Especially in Turkish cuisine, there are many recipes with young broad beans that are prepared with the skin on. If you are not very familiar with broad beans, it is advisable to always remove the shell as a precaution so that the dish does not become fibrous and inedible later.
Can I eat the shell of young broad beans raw?
Even if the shell is still very young and tender, it should, like the beans themselves,not be consumed raw. Legumes contain toxic lectins and phytic acid, which inhibits the absorption of minerals such as iron and zinc. These substances are washed out and broken down through soaking and cooking.
How do you prepare fresh broad beans?
- Break the shell and remove the broad beans
- Blanch broad beans in s alt water for two minutesblanch and then rinse in ice water, this makes it easier to remove the white seed skin from each individual bean
- Broad beans about 10 to 20 minutescook until they are cooked
If the peel is to be eaten, the pods are washed, chopped if necessary and then cooked.
Tip
Don't be put off by the black skin on broad beans
The shell of the broad beans turns black over time. This means that the darker the pod, the longer the pod hung on the plant. If broad beans are harvested young, the shell is green. A black color is completely normal and the beans are still edible. In this case, you should definitely not eat the peel itself because it is very hard. It looks different if the shell has black spots.
