Holstein Beans - Updated!

  vs.   

Tell me that you don't see the uncanny similarity...If a cow were a bean, this is what they would look like.  I dub thee...Holstein Beans!  Ok, ok, these beans already have a name, and the name is actually a damn good one.  They are called Black Calypso, also known as European Soldier, Soldier and Johnson beans, none of which can even compete with the way better name of Holstein Beans. But Steve Sando at Rancho Gordo is the Bean Man, so what he says goes when it comes to beans.  I got these lovelies at the Ferry Building, of course, but he sells them all over the place if you know where to find him.  He also sells corn masa and tortillas, chile peppers and herbs, grains and greens.  I love this stuff!

Update 5/6/05: Ok so a bit of a correction about the Black Calypso's other names, they are also known as Orca beans and Yin/Yang, but European Soldier is a different bean altogether.  My bad, I must have been cross-eyed when I made that up, I mean, when I read that.  This comes straight from the man himself so I guess I'll believe him.

Also, Steve Sando's advice on how to cook these beauties:

Good heirlooms don't need much! One piece of bacon, onion and garlic and
call it a day. Maybe some sage at the end.

Thanks Steve!

Comments

[Dr. Biggles]

I like how you paired those up, you're cool. But I'm still suffering due to some wierd mung or lentil Indian dish I made last night. I don't want to talk about beans for a bit. I have to say though, the taste & texture were outstanding. Sabat Maahan (whole black lentils), that was it. The mung beans await ...

[Fatemeh]

So... hey, what did you DO with them??

[Molly]

I cooked them with too much bacon (never thought I'd say that but it was too much), an onion, a jalapeno and a beer. I think the beer was bitter and so the beans were bitter, I actually didn't like it at all. But don't blame the beans, blame the beeer. Actually, the beans lost their color but kept their markings, looking more like one of those brown spotted cows.

I gotta try it again.