[Sca-cooks] Kidney Beans

[Terry Decker]

The term used is ""fasoli" which is a general term for bean and prior to the arrival of New World beans likely referred to any legume not a fava bean.  It derives from "phaseolus" the Latin term for "bean" which became the species name for New World beans in the 18th Century.  The edible Old World beans of genus Vigna were originally included in genus Phaseolus.  "Kidney  bean" is a general term for members Phaseolus as well as being used a specific common name.  I am given to understand "fasoli" modernly is used to refer to all non-fava legumes including the Vignas.  To avoid confusion, I try to use taxonomic nomenclature where I can.

The asparagus bean, Vigna unguiculata subsp sesquipedalis,  is a vine with a seed pod one to two feet long.  Like the black eyed pea, it's a relative of the cowpea,  Vigna unguiculata sussp. unguiculata.  I've seen the plant in botanical collections, but have never had any to play with culinarily.     
On 8/9/2023 10:46:54 AM, Laureen Hart <lhart at graycomputer.com> wrote:
Was "Kidney Bean" a generic term, like "Corn"?
Black eyed peas are not particularly kidney shaped, but neither are Kidneys.
I am not familiar with asparagus beans.

________________________________
From: Sca-cooks on behalf of Terry Decker
Sent: Wednesday, August 9, 2023 8:32 AM
To: sca-cooks at lists.ansteorra.org
Subject: Re: [Sca-cooks] Still Alive?

I'm curious as to the kidney beans you use. The Cuoco Napoletano dates to the end on the 15th Century and was likely written down before Columbus arrived in the Americas. As genus Phaseolus is of New World origin, it is likely that what is being referenced is not what we call "kidney beans." In this period, kidney bean generally refers members of genus Vigna of African origin long used in Mediterranean cooking, cowpeas, black-eyed peas, and asparagus beans. A visual reference in Carracci's painting, The Bean Eater.

Bear