I can’t help but love the month February – sure, it can often be the coldest month of the year (at least in New York, where I’m based), but it’s also the second month of the year, the month of love! In Greek we have a saying, ‘Kryo Kryo Kairos, Yia Dyo’ which translates to, ‘when it’s cold weather, it’s better for two to be together,’ which fits perfectly with the celebration of Valentine’s Day.
When it comes to this particular holiday, it can be easy to find yourself overwhelmed by the different suggestions for romantic tasting menus and sentimental gifts. But, when you really think about it, why are we giving our loved ones these rich, indulgent foods, when during these tumultuous times we should be showing them we care about them, their health, and wellbeing?
Instead, I suggest we take care of our loved-ones by sharing foods and ingredients that are good for them and their hearts… such as beans and pulses, which are some of the most heart-healthy foods there are!
Beans, Beans, They’re Good for your Heart…
Often called “the meat of the poor,” beans are a great cost-effective option with significant nutritional value – a healthy culinary treasure! Full of vegetable protein and high-quality carbohydrates, beans are rich in vitamins and minerals such as iron, magnesium, potassium, and folic acid, as well as antioxidants. They can help reduce cholesterol, blood pressure, and the risk of diabetes and cardiovascular disease. With all of these incredible attributes, beans and pulses are, in fact, a superfood, and an excellent option for anyone looking to follow the ever-adaptable Mediterranean Diet and lifestyle.
You’ve Always Bean Special to Me
Growing up on my family’s farm, we grew many different types of legumes, including beans and peas. We would harvest them during the summer and let them dry in the sun, so we would have dried beans year-round. In the winter months, we’d use the sun-dried beans in stews, sauces, and casseroles. When the beans were fresh, though, we’d eat them right off the pole that the farmers use to grow the beans. I always thought it was magical to grow a food you could eat year-round in so many different forms.
In my youth, there were some times where we experienced financial hardships; during those years, money was tight, and there were many things my family could not afford, especially luxury items like fish and chicken.
During these tough periods, my father would often travel for work, and would bring back all different kinds of the best food products, depending on where he was going and what he was doing. When he would come back from the Peloponnese, he would always make it a special point to visit Omega (a small bean company at the time, now one of the leaders in the category in Greece) in the Messinia area to pick up varieties of beans we did not grow at home.
My whole family looked forward to those trips because the incredible qualities of the soil and the unique micro-climate in that area meant that the beans from there were far and away the tastiest! We went months on end without any animal protein, but we never suffered—in fact, we grew stronger and healthier every season, consuming mostly beans and horta (wild greens).
Bean There, Done That
Some people think beans are boring, but they never knew my Yiayia (that’s grandmother in Greek), who would attempt to reinvent the wheel by making all kinds of new dishes out of the same basic ingredients—bean patties, beans with tomato sauce, bean salad with olive oil and vinegar, beans with other vegetables, beans with cooked rice or farro (a crunchy, nutty variety of wheat). We even ate beans with cinnamon and honey in a morning stew, similar to oatmeal! Whenever I complained about eating so many beans, she would tell me stories about the ancient Greeks and how many beans they ate, which is what helped make them all so beautiful, clever, and thin.
Looking for the Beaning of Life
In ancient times, beans were just as bountiful, inexpensive, and healthful as they are today. Of all the varieties available today, lentils, chickpeas, peas, and broad beans (called fava beans in the United States) were the most common in ancient Greece. Beans were a main source of protein for the majority of the population, in addition to providing fiber and many important vitamins and antioxidants.
Beans were used not only for food, but in religious and political practices, too. There were many superstitions surrounding beans. For example, the Greeks associated black spots on fava beans with death, and forbade priests from eating them. Beans were also used in the world’s first democracy as a voting method: Voting with a white bean was considered a “yes,” while black beans were considered a “no.” The phrase “the beans have been counted” (koukia metrimena) is still used today to refer to election results.
By Any Beans Necessary
Beans come in many different shapes and sizes: koukia (fava beans), gigantes (giant beans), fasolia (white beans), fakes (lentils), revithia (chickpeas), kokkina fasolia (red beans), mavra fasolia (black beans), rovitsa (mung beans) and mavromatika (Black-Eyed Beans) are all Greek beans, versatile in their culinary applications. Use your favorite bean as the base of a soup, such as the famous Fasolada, or White Bean Soup, which is actually the national dish of Greece! Or, use lentils as the base for a hearty-yet-flavorful salad with citrus fruits, onions, bell peppers, and anything you like! Turn hummus on its head by making a blended fava bean spread, and use some garlic, lemon, a touch of hot pepper, and olive oil to take it to the next level. With beans, the only limitations you face are those of your own creativity!
We’ve Bean Waiting for You…
Believe it or not, beans can also be aphrodisiacs! Admittedly, beans are more commonly associated with flatulence, which isn’t viewed as particularly ‘sexy’; but because beans and pulses are so rich in vitamins and minerals, certain varieties actively support healthy hormone levels, thereby increasing the consumer’s libido and amorous inclinations! In order to combat the ‘wind’ factor when consuming beans, simply pair them with some lemon (if the dish is appropriate), or, enjoy a tablespoon of lemon juice right before or after you eat them, and that will silence the musical fruit.
So this Valentine’s Day, instead of showering your loved one with chocolates, flowers, and jewelry, share a beaningful meal with them, and tell them how much you love them through the heart-healthy foods you share – I guarantee Aphrodite would approve.
Kalí órexi! Enjoy your meal!
All Photos courtesy of Loi Estiatorio
