Resembling Cranberry Shelling beans, tongue of fire shelling beans have large, pale green pods with vibrant red streaks. Once shelled, the beans themselves are also strikingly colored, red speckled on a cream background. The color fades in the cooking process. Tongue of fire shelling beans are large with a nutty, somewhat sweet flavor, with a creamy and substantial texture.

Serving Ideas

Heirloom shelling beans' flavors are more bold and require less manipulation than that of a dry non-heirloom bean. Fresh shelling beans require a shorter cooking time than dried beans, typically 30-45 minutes. Tongue of Fire beans may be braised, pureed into soups, chilled and tossed with fresh tomatoes and herbs in a summer salad, or topped with toasted bread crumbs in a gratin.

Ethnic/Cultural Info

Farmers, specifically organic farmers, often grow beans in open, and otherwise empty, fields to keep the nitrogen in the soil from leaching out. The entire crop is then turned into the soil at the end of the season, treating the beans as green manure for healthy soil development and revitalization.

Geography/History

The tongue of fire shelling bean is an Italian heirloom shelling bean (Borlotto Lingua di Fuoco) originally collected from Tierra del Fuego on the tip of South America.

Seasons/Availability

Tongue of fire shelling beans are available in summer months sometimes stretching into early fall.