What Are Borlotti Beans? A Spotted Bean Packed with Flavor and Nutrition

With their pinkish-beige hue speckled with reddish-brown spots, borlotti beans make a beautiful addition to any dish. But these colorful beans are more than just pretty to look at. Borlotti beans offer great taste and impressive nutrition as well. Keep reading to learn all about what makes the borlotti bean special.

An Overview of Borlotti Beans

Borlotti beans go by many names, including cranberry beans, Roman beans, saluggia beans and rosecoco beans. But they all refer to the same spotted legume with a creamy texture and sweet, nutty flavor.

Botanically, borlotti beans belong to the Phaseolus vulgaris species, making them close relatives of kidney beans Unlike kidney beans, borlotti beans have a colorful, speckled exterior They are especially popular in Italian and Portuguese cuisines.

You can buy borlotti beans dried or fresh. Dried borlotti beans need to be soaked before cooking to rehydrate them Fresh shell beans just need the shells removed before use. Canned borlotti beans are less common than other canned bean varieties

Key Nutrition Facts About Borlotti Beans

What makes borlotti beans such a healthy choice? Here’s an overview of their stellar nutritional profile:

• Protein: 1 cup cooked borlotti beans contains about 15 grams protein. The protein is plant-based, making these beans useful for vegetarian and vegan diets.

• Fiber: Borlotti beans deliver a whopping 24 grams of dietary fiber per cooked cup. Fiber promotes healthy digestion and heart health.

• Iron: A single cup provides over 5 milligrams of iron, which carries oxygen throughout the body.

• Potassium: Borlotti beans are high in potassium, with over 1000 milligrams per cooked cup. Potassium aids muscle function.

• Folate: These beans have over 500 micrograms of folate per cup. Folate is a B vitamin vital for new cell production.

• Magnesium and manganese: Borlotti beans also supply magnesium for blood pressure regulation and bone-healthy manganese.

Thanks to their stellar nutritional profile, adding borlotti beans to your diet provides some major health perks!

Cooking and Preparing Borlotti Beans

To get dried borlotti beans ready for cooking:

• Pick through the dried beans, removing any discolored or shriveled ones. Rinse the rest.

• Soak beans for at least 8 hours or overnight in plenty of water. Drain away the soaking liquid.

• Rinse soaked beans again. Cover with fresh water and simmer until fork tender, usually 1-2 hours.

• Don’t add salt during cooking, as it can prevent beans from softening. Salt at the end instead.

• Flavor the cooking liquid with herbs, garlic or broth for more taste.

Properly soaked and cooked, borlotti beans become perfectly smooth and creamy. Then they are ready for any recipe!

Fresh borlotti beans just need to have their shells removed before cooking. They do not require soaking. Follow a similar process of simmering in flavored liquid until tender.

Delicious Ways to Cook with Borlotti Beans

The mild, slightly sweet flavor of borlotti beans pairs well with all different seasonings and ingredients:

• Make a creamy bean dip or spread by puréeing cooked borlotti beans.

• Toss whole borlotti beans into soups, chilis and stews for extra protein.

• Mix cooked borlotti beans into pasta salads, rice dishes and grain bowls.

• Add beans to casseroles along with meat, veggies and seasonings.

• Sauté borlotti beans with onions, garlic and greens for an easy side dish.

• Roast spiced borlotti beans for a high-protein crunchy snack.

• Mash borlotti beans and shape into veggie burgers or meatballs.

The options for enjoying nutritious and tasty borlotti beans are practically endless!

How to Buy and Store Borlotti Beans

When shopping for borlotti beans, look for them sold dried or fresh. Dried beans can be found in bulk bins or bags in the grains section of grocery stores. Fresh borlotti beans may be available seasonally at farmers markets or well-stocked produce sections.

For storage, keep dried borlotti beans in an airtight container in a cool, dark place. They can last for several years this way. Older beans may require longer soaking and cooking times.

Once cooked, borlotti beans can be refrigerated for up to a week in a sealed container. For longer storage, freeze cooked beans for 2-3 months. Thaw frozen beans in the fridge before using.

Fresh uncooked borlotti beans should be eaten within 1-2 weeks of purchase. They can also be shelled and dried for extended storage.

Are Borlotti Beans Healthy?

With their stellar nutrition profile of protein, fiber, iron, potassium and other vitamins and minerals, borlotti beans offer some impressive health benefits. Here are some of the ways these colorful beans can boost your health:

• The fiber in borlotti beans promotes digestion and gut health. Fiber may lower cholesterol levels too.

• The potassium, magnesium and protein supports heart health by lowering blood pressure.

• Iron carries oxygen throughout the body for energy and a healthy immune system.

• Protein and fiber provide a feeling of fullness, which can aid weight management.

• Folate is essential for cell division and preventing birth defects.

• Manganese strengthens bones and facilitates nutrient absorption.

So don’t be fooled by their brightly speckled exterior – these beans pack some serious nutritional punch! Adding borlotti beans to your diet provides major health advantages.

What Do Borlotti Beans Taste Like?

When cooked properly, borlotti beans become extremely creamy and smooth. They have a mild, subtly sweet and nutty flavor. Unlike other beans, borlotti beans don’t taste starchy or mealy when cooked.

Their flavor and texture resembles cannellini beans, which are also in the kidney bean family. But the speckled borlotti beans have a more complex, nuanced flavor.

The mild taste allows borlotti beans to work well in both sweet and savory dishes. They take on surrounding flavors easily too. Overall, cooked borlotti beans offer pleasantly mild sweetness with a creamy smooth mouthfeel.

Simple Borlotti Bean Recipe Ideas

These pretty speckled beans lend their nutrition, color and flavor to all kinds of dishes:

• Borlotti bean salad: Toss cooked, cooled beans with chopped veggies, fresh herbs and a lemony dressing.

• Bean and vegetable soup: Simmer borlotti beans with seasonal veggies and broth.

• Three bean salad: Mix borlotti beans with 2 other bean types, onions and a vinaigrette.

• White bean dip: Blend cooked beans with garlic, lemon juice and olive oil for a spread.

• Bean and sausage stew: Cook beans with sautéed sausage, tomatoes, greens and stock.

With their versatility, it’s easy to add more borlotti beans into your cooking routine. They make a simple yet satisfying addition to any plate!

Are Borlotti Beans Worth Trying?

If you haven’t cooked with borlotti beans before, their vibrant speckled appearance and stellar nutrition definitely make them worth experimenting with. Their mild, nuanced flavor works well in many dishes too.

Compared to more common beans, borlotti beans have a creamier consistency and more complex sweet, nutty taste when cooked properly. Their beautiful color brightens up any recipe as well.

Easy to prepare, packed with nutrients and offering a subtly sweet creaminess, beautiful borlotti beans deserve a place in any well-stocked kitchen. Expand your bean horizons by picking up a bag and trying out these colorful legumes today.