Do not eat raw!
You should never eat firebeans raw! They are poisonous. It is the phasin contained in them, a lectin that is a poisonous protein compound and causes confusion in the body. But this lectin is destroyed at temperatures above 75 ° C. The following applies: Firebeans are only poisonous when they are raw.
also read
- Fire beans - poisonous in their raw state
- Prefer firebeans relaxed at home
- Harvest firebeans
Cooked and fermented edible
You can eat the whole, young pods as well as the later ripening seeds. The bean seeds are extremely nutritious and fill you up well. In addition, the flowers of the fire bean plant are edible. You can even eat them raw. They are suitable, for example, as a decorative element for serving dishes.
While the taste of the blossoms is reminiscent of sugar snap peas or the blossoms of the flat pea, the bean seeds taste nutty and, with their floury consistency, are reminiscent of chestnuts. You can also ferment the beans (sour beans). Even in this state they are non-toxic, as the lectins are broken down by the fermentation process.
What can you use firebeans for?
Fire beans can be used like normal beans. If they are dry, they should be soaked in water for 12 to 24 hours before cooking. This shortens the cooking process. Here are a few preparation ideas:
- for soups
- for salads
- fried as a vegetable with meat
- for purees
- with rice
- as a filling for dumplings
- for casseroles
A Styrian specialty
In Styria, Austria, firebeans are even a specialty. There they are known as beetle beans. A beetle bean salad is often found in restaurants. It is made from fire beans, onions, vinegar and salt.
Tips
If you have harvested too many firebeans and you cannot use them immediately: how about drying the kidney-shaped bean seeds and using them later for stews and the like?
