What are Cranberry Beans Good for?

Cranberry beans are one of the oldest bean varieties in America. These beans, also known as borlotti beans, are popular in Italy and Portugal. The creamy texture of a cranberry bean makes it an excellent ingredient in soups and stews.

Appearance and Flavor

Cranberry beans get their name from their coloring. The pods of fresh cranberry beans are a cream color with pinkish-red markings. Uncooked, dried cranberry beans are an ivory color with specks and streaks that are a deep, cranberry color. When cooked, the beans become light brown.

A cranberry bean has a slightly sweet, somewhat nutty flavor. It has a creamy, smooth texture. This bean variety is pleasing to the palate when used in a cold, hot, or moderate temperature recipe.

Health Benefits

Whether you follow a specific dietary plan or eat whatever you want based on your cooking skills or budget, dried cranberry beans are a great item to keep on hand. They’re an excellent plant-based source of protein. One outstanding nutritional benefit of these beans is they contain all nine of the essential amino acids that are beneficial to heart health. They also support heart health by providing potassium and zinc. They are also a source of thiamine that supports brain function. Including dried cranberry beans in your diet can help you achieve the daily recommended amount of manganese, copper, iron, phosphorus, and folate. Fiber plays an important role in helping maintain overall health. Getting the proper amount of fiber is beneficial to a weight-loss diet, diabetic diet, and heart-healthy diet. Fiber also supports the digestive system and helps eliminate issues such as constipation and hemorrhoids that cause discomfort. A half-cup serving of dried or fresh cranberry beans provides 35% of the recommended daily amount of fiber.

Cooking the Beans

Fresh, unshelled cranberry beans can be stored in the refrigerator for about four days. They are easy to shell and easy to prepare. Put the beans in a pot, cover them with cold water, season according to your taste preference, and cook for approximately 25 minutes, or until the beans are tender.

Dried beans should be soaked overnight before cooking and the cooking time will need to be increased to about 45 minutes. There’s an abundance of recipes online offering diverse ways to enjoy borlotti beans.