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  • March 30, 2023 5 min read

    Eat the rainbow this month with Yellow Peruviana, Eye of the Goat and some Tibetan Purple Barley. The calendar says spring but Mother Nature is still in winter mode for most of us. To celebrate spring, bean club style, we've collected colorful favorites to break us out of our winter slump. 

    **DUE TO AN EXTREME SHORTAGE OF HEIRLOOM BEANS THIS SEASON WE ARE NO LONGER OFFERING THE FAMILY SIZE BOX.  WE ARE ALSO CONVERTING ALL GLUTEN FREE TO BEAN ONLY SUBSCRIPTIONS.

    THE BEAN AND GRAIN BOX CONTAINS:

    Organic Peruviana, Organic Ojo De Cabra, Heirloom Tibetan Purple Barley

    THE BEAN ONLY CONTAINS:

    Organic Peruviana, Organic Ojo De Cabra, Organic Black Turtle Beans

     

    EYE OF THE GOAT

    eye of the goat heirloom beans

    The Eye Of The Goat (or "Ojo de Cabra" Beans) is a much beloved, and drop dead gorgeous heirloom with a distinctive swirl pattern creating its "eye." With delicate thin skins a robust flavor and a rich bean broth they are a favorite from Baja in Mexico.  This is one of those beans that has so much flavor it needs nothing more than salt, olive oil and possibly a bay leaf. Sure you can get fancy but a basic pot of beans will produce gourmet quality with little effort. Feeling adventurous? Try this Goat Chili with Eye of the Goat from Food and Wine. For the less inclined to eat actual goat, here's a delicious vegetarian recipe (easily turned vegan) for Eye of The Goat With Salsa Verde and Feta. 

     

    Primary Beans Founders

    ABOUT THE MAKER

    Primary Beans is a brand-new, sister-founded purveyor of single-origin dried beans from recent harvests on a mission to place the almighty bean at the forefront of meals that are good for people and the planet.

    Linsey and Renee are fifth-generation Arizonans from a small town on the Mexican border. Like any border town kids, they grew up around the culture and flavors of Northern Mexico. Early on, they developed a deep appreciation for beans and were the kids asking for “no rice, only beans please” at the local restaurant.

    Turning their passion into a mission, the sisters created Primary Beans to deepen our connection to the food we eat and the land it comes from. They ethically source fresh, delicious beans from their network of family farms to deliver them to your table.

    ORGANIC PERUVIANA BEANS

    Peruviana Beans are also known as Canary or Mayacoba Beans. No matter what you call them, this butter-yellow legume is a delicious thin skinned bean with a creamy texture similar to pinto. Dubbed the "king of beans" by Latin chefs, it is incredibly versatile and used in everything from refried beans to soups. Some claim this tasty yellow bean is easier on digestion and less gas producing than other beans.

    The humble Peruviana is a decendant of the common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris), the first bean in the Americas. The 8,000 year old bean was discovered in Peru. Peruvian beans are an important part of the diet of people of this region in modern times as well. In 1978, two yellow bean varieties of these beans were crossed by Mexican agronomists in order to improve yield and quality of the beans. The offspring of that pairing was named Mayocoba after the name of a village in the Sinaloa state. 

    ABOUT THE FARMER

    Larry Kandarian

    When it comes to ancient grains and farming, Larry Kandarian is legendary. Meeting Larry at the Santa Monica farmers market feels like meeting an agricultural prophet. He can talk to you all day about varieties of beans and grains you've never heard of and how going beyond just organic to fully sustainable and regenerative farming creates better tasting food. His deeply weathered hands from over 50 years working in the fields, let you know that he's the real deal. Unlike others, Larry doesn't just own a farm, he is a true farmer. He is passionate about growing better tasting food that is also better for us and the planet. His incredibly diverse array of grains, legumes, herbs and spices grown in Los Osos, California are all carefully chosen heirloom varieties that work together to create a self-sustaining eco-system that requires no fertilizer, pesticides or weed killers.


    HERITAGE TIBETAN PURPLE BARLEY

    Heritage Tibetan Purple Barley has a deep, earthy flavor to match its distinctive color. The deep purple grain is high in antioxidants. Discovered in Tibet, this variety of purple barley was first brought to the United States almost 100 years ago but was locked away in seed vaults with little attention. Luckily farms like Hayden Mills are bringing back this nutritious whole grain. With a stunning color and a delicious nutty flavor it's a favorite of ours in grain bowls, salads and soups. It can be used as a substitute for rice and makes a delicious faux risotto. Barley is not gluten free but it is low in gluten making it a healthy alternative for people who can tolerate some gluten in their diets. 

    WHAT TO DO WITH IT

    Deliciously nutty, purple barley makes excellent salads, grain bowls and this substitutes for rice in this yummy risotto recipe from the New York Times. It's the perfect way to elevate a mushroom barley soup. In this hazelnut elderberry purple barley salad, we combine it with hazelnut oil, elderberry balsamic, pecans and berries to create one of our favorite cold salads to enjoy all year long.

     

    ORGANIC BLACK TURTLE BEANS (Bean Only)

    These organically grown midnight black beans are a beautiful true turtle bean with traditional flavor and texture perfect for everything from dips to soup. You'll find this heirloom variety called everything from Midnight Black to Black Valentine or simply "black beans". 

    They have a delicate skin and a dense, meaty texture, giving off a inky black broth that made them a favorite for centuries of cooking in the Southwest. The broth alone is so prized it is often served as a soup by itself.

    Black beans date back over 7,000 years when they were a staple in the diets of Central and South Americans.The turtle bean was first widely grown in the present-day United States after the Mexican–American War (1846–1848). However, it was primarily grown as a snap pea (for the edible seed pod).

     

    WHAT TO DO WITH THEM

    The little black dress of beans, you can use these in everything from this vegan Not So Basic Black Bean Soup Recipe to a killer Black Bean Burger which is not vegan. I usually cook up a pot of them on Sunday and then keep them in 

    Small Town Specialties

     the fridge all week to throw in salads, soups and even a stir fry. They make amazing black bean cakes and they are amazing in our Urfa Chili Black Bean Brownies

    ABOUT THE FARMER

    Small Town Specialties is a family owned and operated business. Allen and Kendral are passionate about bringing you Non GMO, and Gluten-free products directly from their farm.  What started with just a handful of beans, years later has turned into a flourishing crop.

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