[Sca-cooks] cannellini beans

[Johnna Holloway]

Actually in the case of the beans, the New World post Columbus Voyages  
of Discovery beans were adopted
into European cuisine and gardens in the 16th century. (Period extends  
to 1600, doesn't it?)
One of the problems with the beans in various European countries is  
that new beans
often just supplanted the old and kept the same name as the old.

Here again I recommend Ken Albala's award winning book Beans A History.
We've mentioned Professor Janick's work at Purdue before with regard  
to his work at the Villa Farnesina in Italy and the New World plants  
that are depicted there.
Albala mentions that the Phaseolus beans can be found in the festoons  
and swags of various paintings in the villa.

Perhaps Baroness Helewyse's paper below will help you with suitable  
16th century recipes.

A time for change : new world foods in old world menus.  This was the  
class I did for Pennsic 35 in 2006, discussing the spread and use of  
various new world foods (squash, beans, turkey, corn) and the lack of  
spread of the tomato into 16th century Italy.

http://www.medievalcookery.com/helewyse/

Johnnae

On Oct 8, 2011, at 10:07 PM, Sharon Palmer wrote:

>> Anyone know if these are period and what a good substitute may be?
>>
>> Thank you, De
>
> Like all Phaseolus vulgaris, cannellini beans are New World and not  
> period.
> I don't think there really is a substitute, a recipe that calls for  
> them would be out of period too.
> Better to look for a recipe with garbanzos, black eyed peas, favas  
> or one of the other old world beans
>
> Ranvaig