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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!

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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The Latvian way to eat Fava beans

The Fava beans have been known for centuries in traditional Latvian cuisine. They were the first ones brought to Latvia and Baltics, and were the main food (along with brown peas) until potatoes arrived and took the first place. Nowadays, boiled Fava beans are the Latvian traditional summer meal. In this article, I’m gonna show

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