Hubby wet out to the garden on Friday and picked 2 pounds of these “fun” beans. After all, when was the last time you sat down and snapped a purple bean?
I’d never seen a purple bean until we moved to this town and my elderly neighbor gave me a bunch for my dinner. This year when I went around the neighborhood passing out my cucumber seedlings, he gave me a container of purple bean seeds! I came home to Hubby and looked at him and the seeds and said, “I’m game!”
So we planted them along the sides of the garden near the string sides and watched. They’re actually pretty plants and before long we noticed that they were doing well.
After Hubby picked them, I snapped them all and got them in some cold water to wait until it was time to cook, and the real “fun” would begin!
Once I was ready to begin cooking dinner, I got the camera ready. You see something amazing starts to happen when they come to a boil and cook.
Ah-ha! Can you see?
Yes, as the beans cook they slowly turn from purple to GREEN!
Once they are done, they are completely green. I think they taste fuller, nuttier, but Hubby says he thinks this is just because they are so fresh.
Perhaps this is true. All I know is that I think these have to be the best beans I have ever had!
Still it is hard to believe that these beans start out deep dark purple,
and cook down to deep dark green!
That is AMAZING… Even as a Horticulturist, I have never seen these… I have seen pruple streaked green beans, white beans and a pruple and white streaked jeans, but never such a solid purple! And for the to turn green as cooking, as opposed to turning a lighter purple, is wierd!!!
That is so cool. My Grandkids would like to watch that, but not eat them. I am sure I’d love them!
I’ve been pretty busy since we got home late yesterday. I have lots of pictures to upload. Love YOU, Mel
Fortunately you wrote that it was beans ! When I opened your blog I saw a basket full of thick worms or snails and was rather disgusted, lol ! I have never seen such beans either but at the end they really look “normal” !
How cool is that!! I really enjoyed learning something new today. I even sent the link to my sister so she could see and read it. You are such an interesting read Maribeth!
That is incredible! I wonder if the beans can be found commercially. I’d love to plant them here. I’ve grown green beans here before. You know…it gets really hot in Tx, so I have to ask.
I found where to buy the seeds. It is too late to plant them now, but early next spring they might have time to make before it got too hot.
http://www.kitchengardenseeds.com/cgi-bin/catview.cgi?_fn=Product&_category=3
#1225 Purple Queen Bush Beans: 50-55 days
Tolerant of cooler temperatures, Purple Queen can be planted two weeks before most other varieties. Hardy and very productive, it has pretty, mauve-purple flowers on strong, upright plants. Its rich, burgundy beans grow to 5½” long with an attractive, straight and round shape, easily spotted amongst its foliage. Purple Queen
is known for its tender texture and rich taste. It magically changes to green as it is lightly cooked. (OP.)
Packet of 150 Seeds / $2.75
I’m glad I read on. I thought it was a bunch of worms or creatures. I’ll bet they’re wonderful!!
Oh my gosh! I am SO glad you posted this! If I had brought home some purple beans and cooked them NOT knowing this I would have felt SOOOOOO jipped! No kidding! I’d have been furious! But… now that I know… I’m okay with it! It IS saaad though that they don’t get to go on the table in all their purple splendor! I do have one question though — the plants — are they green? Or are they purple too?
That’s so cool – I love wax beans too!! 😀
Wow that’s so cool!!! Apparently you can get purple potatoes too… aside from grapes and eggplant, I can’t say that I’ve really ever eaten anything purple before!
How cool is that!!! You must’ve been shocked when they changed color. Wonder why that happens…
Natural phenomenas are allways interesting to watch. I think this must the beans equivalent to Lobsters. LOL.
PS. We love beans and have some in our summerhouse garden
Your such a clever chef – I would have trust you 100% in cooking. Hope one day we can meet in each of each others kitchen, drinking wine and exchange recipe!