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Traditions & customs

Hundreds of varieties of beans, lentils, peas and other pulses are the basis of rich and diverse regional cultures and traditions in European kitchens and gardens. Discover inspiring articles coming straight from different parts of the world!

Pea balls – let’s give peas a tasty second chance!

pea balls

Have you ever made pea balls? Good old Latvian dishes are good ideas for eating peas in a tastier way. It is very important for Latvians to honor the traditions. As Latvians live according to the Solar calendar, every holiday in the year has an important ritual meaning. Just like the food that is brought

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Behind the seeds – Promoting biodiversity through education, with Lucas Mourão (Brazil)

As part of the 8th ‘Behind the Seeds’ interviews at Terra Madre, Slow Food’s convention in Turin last September, we interviewed Lucas Mourão from Belo Horizonte in Brazil. Lucas is the coordinator of Slow Food local community in his city, and works for Jaca Verde PANC, where he gives courses, guided tours, landscaping and consultancy on non-conventional food plants. Lucas is always looking for people that work with biodiversity!

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Big grey peas in Latvian national Christmas dish

Big grey peas zutini

Big Grey peas with bacon are a “must have” on Latvians Christmas table. When you ask a Latvian “What is the national dish of your country?”, Big grey peas with bacon is usually the first thing that comes up. Peas with bacon are both the food with which we identify ourselves as a nation, and

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Lentil Mania & a happy new year!

Do you know why Italians eat lentils on New Year’s Eve? Have you heard of the Colline Ennesi Black Lentil? Discover lentils from a whole new angle in this article describing the traditions of lentil dishes and how to cook them with a special recipe of Orange lentil salad with fennel from Cecilia Antoni (Bean Beat)!

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The central role of legumes in Kenyan diet

Kenya is considered a farming nation. Among farming communities in the country, legumes are an important source of nourishment and are, therefore, central to many diets in the country. They are indeed good sources of protein, fibre, they protect against diseases, they fertilise the soil for other crops and they contribute to the economy of the country. Want to know how? Discover the role of vegetables in Kenya in this article! 

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