Haricots verts

+Description

Like other green beans, haricot vert beans are merely the unripe fruits of the bean plant. Haricot vert is French for green beans and the bean is also native to France. Haricot meaning beans and vert meaning green. Haricot vert beans resemble regular green beans. However, they are a bit more slender and long than regular green beans. This bean is stringless and is considered to be a snap bean. Haricots verts have a more complex flavour then other ordinary green beans.

+Availability

Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec

Haricot verts are available from Kenya.

+Main nutrients

Calcium, Copper, Iron, Fiber, Folate, Magnesium, Manganese, Niacin, Phosphorus, Potassium, Protein, Riboflavin, Thiamin, Vitamin A, B6, C and K.

Main varieties

Haricot vert

Haricots verts are low in calories, but rich in minerals and vitamins. The beans might have one of the best sources of cholesterol-lowering fiber and proteins.
View Haricot vert

Preparation

Wash the beans and cut off the ends. Haricots verts are not eaten raw and should be cooked. Boil, steam, fry, stir-fry or roast the beans. This can best be done briefly to maintain the crispiness of the beans.

Consumption

Haricots verts are not suitable to be eaten raw. Raw beans contain toxin which can easily be removed by cooking it. When lightly cooked, haricot verts are tender, crispy, and with a hint of sweetness. Many cooks like to briefly blanch them and add them to salads and other dishes. Haricots verts can also be fried or roasted to make rich side dishes which are packed with an intense springy flavour.

When to eat

Choose beans that are firm and without decay. Fresh haricots verts should snap easily when they are bent. Haricots verts can best be kept in the refrigerator and consumed within one week.

Did you know?

Haricot verts are sometimes call “French beans” or “French green beans” to differentiate them from other varieties of green beans.
Snap beans got their nickname from the snapping sound they make when being broken.