Nine American Heirloom Beans for Soup Bean Survival, Gourmet Style

As the official unemployment rate hovers at 9 percent (the real jobless rate is nearly twice that), Americans are getting punched in the pocketbook from every direction. Food prices continue to rise, and many people are going into debt just to keep food on the table.

A well-stocked pantry can help you weather a financial crunch, whether it results from a job layoff, a bad economy, or another source. Think of your pantry as food insurance for hard times, and start building your stockpile today.

According to Off The Grid News, no pantry should be without these emergency survival items: kosher or sea salt, olive and coconut oil, honey, vinegar, black peppercorns, garlic, chicken stock or broth, fresh canned fruits and vegetables (especially tomatoes), pasta, rice, and dried beans.

The last item on the list is probably the foremost item in a well-stocked pantry. High in protein, fiber, and numerous vital nutrients, beans are just as hearty as meat in cooked dishes. They also cost less than meat, and they store very well.

Dried beans are a good food staple for many reasons. They taste great served alone or cooked in soups, stews, and chili. They are good budget-stretchers, and much less expensive than other foods. They are nutrition powerhouses packed with protein, vitamins, minerals, and fiber. And their satiating power provides a feeling of fullness, important during lean and hungry times.

With more than 15,000 bean varieties in the world today, you can find a flavor and texture to suit anyone's taste. Unfortunately, most varieties never make it to the grocery store shelves. Those that do are usually commercial varieties. While they are easy to grow, package, ship, and store, they are typically older beans with little flavor.

Heirloom beans, those that were commonly grown during earlier periods of history, are the best-tasting dried beans available today. Heirlooms are sustainable, organic, open-pollinated plants that are not treated with harmful chemicals.

Fresh-picked heirloom beans require less soaking and cooking time than other dried beans. Because they are seeds, too, you can plant them and enjoy their flavorful versatility for years to come.

Heirloom beans are grown across the globe, including in the United States. They are nearly impossible to find in your local grocery store, and gourmet restaurants are usually the first in line for these varieties. But you can order heirloom beans or seeds online and grow them yourself.

These nine heirloom bean varieties are grown in the Americas, from Canada to Peru and places in-between. Stock your pantry now to enjoy delicious, healthy food in the coming months -- however the economy paints your picture.

The Black Valentine bean is a classic heirloom variety among gardeners and home growers everywhere. Their rich, nutty flavor makes them popular with cooks, who use them in everything from soups and stews to brownies and cupcakes.

Black Valentine beans are stringless, bush-type beans that are edible as fresh snap beans or dried beans. Their versatility makes them suitable for almost any recipe or cooking style.

The Christmas Lima is different from the little green lima beans you ate as a child. Originally cultivated in Peru, the Christmas Lima gets its name from a traditional Italian holiday stew. Legend says the Pope enjoys eating these beans with his Christmas meal.

Christmas Lima beans have distinctive burgundy markings that remain even after cooking. The beans make a bold statement with their rich "chestnut" flavor and "baked potato" texture. Manganese provides their strong antioxidant properties, and they are a good source of iron and fiber.

Cooks use Christma Lima beans in soups or side dishes. Hardy and heat-tolerant, they are great for home gardeners, too.

The Eye Of The Goat bean is a small bean in the cowpea family. It is related to the black-eyed pea, popular in traditional southern recipes and New Year's dishes.

The little grey bean with the dark stripe is true to its name; it does resemble a goat's eye. It packs a lot of flavor, too -- so much flavor that ham hocks and soup bones are unnecessary for cooking.

Unlike many dried beans, Eye of the Goat beans retain their sweet flavor and rich color throughout the cooking process. They are ideal for just about anything: soups, stews, chili, salads, and side dishes. Served hot or cold, these beans are definite crowd-pleasers.

The Green Flageolet heirloom variety is called the "caviar of beans." Unless you shop the gourmet food stores and specialty catalogs, you may never see them. But they are excellent staples for your food pantry.

Green Flageolet beans have a delicate, creamy flavor, yet they are hardy beans that stand up well during cooking. Delicious in soups and stews, they are equally tasty in cold salads.

The Green Flageolet name comes from the bean's ability to retain chlorophyll longer than other beans. Not only do they add color to your meals, but these gourmet gems contain numerous essential nutrients and powerful antioxidants.

Despite a rather dull appearance, the Hutterite Soup bean may be the best heirloom variety for soups. The beans absorb water easily and cook very quickly, and they are nearly impossible to ruin. Their creamy, buttery flavor makes them a favorite among modern cooks.

Like the Mennonites and Amish, the Hutterites can trace their roots to the Reformation. Fleeing religious persecution in Austria, the Hutterites moved to the American Midwest, where they cultivated this bean and became famous for their soups.

Hutterite Soup beans make great mashed baby food. Cooks can substitute them for rice in some dishes. They are also good in salads, and with vegetables or pasta.

Jacob's Cattle bean is another popular heirloom variety, but its origin remains a mystery. Some historians claim it originated on Prince Edward Island. Others believe it was a gift from the Passamaquoddy Indians to American colonists in Maine. Still others say that German settlers brought the bean to the United States.

However it came to be, this versatile bean is a good choice for the pantry and the garden. The plump, red-and-white speckled bean is known for retaining its shape after cooking. Its full, rich flavor resembles that of new potatoes.

Popular as a baked bean, Jacob's Cattle bean is often mashed or refried for Mexican dishes. At 100 calories per serving, it is a healthy and filling bean choice.

Jacob's Cattle Gold bean is a stabilized cross between Jacob's Cattle and Paint beans. This popular heirloom variety has markings that are similar to Jacob's Cattle, but the red-and-white speckled pattern is replaced with a unique golden-and-white appearance.

Like Jacob's Cattle, Jacob's Cattle Gold beans hold their shape during cooking. They retain their unique flavor identity, as well. This eye-catching heirloom bean is perfect for soups, stews, and chili. It is often served as refried beans.

The Runner Cannellini bean is one of the world's most popular heirloom bean varieties. It is a hallmark of Italian and European cuisine. Initially cultivated in Argentina, Runner Cannellini beans are now grown across the globe.

Runner Cannellini beans triple in size after cooking. Their earthy, buttery flavor and creamy texture make them a good substitute for cooked or mashed potatoes. They are easy to prepare in a slow cooker, and many cooks puree them for bean dips and spreads. Known for its abundant production, this bean is also a good one for home gardeners.

Snow Cap beans are beautiful heirloom beans that many cooks enjoy showing off in glass containers. Some growers describe their striking appearance as "cranberries dipped in white chocolate."

Partly white and partly speckled, dried Snow Cap beans are a good pantry staple for hearty winter soups, thick chowders, and chili. The soft, silky texture is similar to that of potatoes, and Snow Caps make for rich and filling dishes.

• Elton, Cathy. (September 14, 2011) "Heirloom Beans: A Taste Of Yesterday, Today." One Green Planet. Retrieved January 9, 2012.
• Off The Grid Radio. (October 14, 2011) "Food Insurance For Tough Times." Off The Grid News. Retrieved January 9, 2011.
• Solutions From Science. (n.d.) "The World's Healthiest Storable Survival Food." Soup Bean Survival. Retrieved January 9, 2012.
• USDA. (March 26, 2009) "Dry Beans: Background." United States Department of Agriculture Economic Research Service. Retrieved January 9, 2012.
• Wikipedia contributors. (January 7, 2012). "Heirloom Plants." Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved January 9, 2012.

Copyright © 2012. Annette R. Smith. All rights reserved.

Published January 09, 2012. Updated February 10, 2012.