Heirloom Beans From Rancho Gordo
• $5.50/pound
• Rancho Gordo
A few times a year I place a big order for beans from Rancho Gordo, a purveyor of heirloom beans, dried corn, chiles, dried herbs, grains and rice. The box arrives and my pantry feels complete. Yes, these beans are that exciting.
Three reasons to buy Rancho Gordo beans: 1) the beans require minimal soaking and less cooking time than commercial hybrids because they are fresher ... continued below
2) they have an outstanding selection of beans all with beautiful stories attached, 3) all the beans are rare indigenous varieties, so your purchase helps support genetic diversity for this globally significant crop.
The beans pictured above are Good Mother Stallards. They have a dense texture and deep flavor. I like them because they're also just darn pretty. When was the last time you met a pretty bean?
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Another great resource for organic heirloom beans is the Seed Savers Exchange (http://www.seedsavers.org/). They not only sell heirloom seeds and beans for planting, but also for cooking! The dutch brown beans are really delicious. Here's a link to the part of their store with cooking beans:
http://www.seedsavers.org/Items.aspx?hierId=14
I adore Rancho Gordo beans! I discovered them while visiting San Francisco. I bought several bags in December--a few for myself and the rest for gifts. I think it's so important to support genetic biodiversity in plants!
Rancho Gordo has wonderful beans. My husband always calls them "beans for a king."
I like Native Seed / SEARCH for heirloom beans, especially tepary beans. It's a non-profit that actively grows and stores heirloom seeds.
http://www.nativeseeds.org
The Chile collection is also fabulous!
Rancho Gordo beans are the most delicious beans I've eaten, hands down. I particularly love the Rio Zapes.
Fortunately I don't have to mail-order them or go to SF as my local cheese shop (the awesome Surdyk's) sells them and so does one of the local natural food co-ops.
Plus for all the gardeners, don't forget you can save out some of the dried beans and plant them.
I have three bags (different kinds) of beans from Rancho Gordo but I am not sure what the best way to cook them is. Any suggestions? One thing: I don't have a slow cooker.
I have a bag of these Good Mother Stallard beans. How do you suggest using them?
Rancho Gordo Good Mother Stallards have gone into pot beans, bean salad, bean soups, a few cassoulets and been planted in containers at my place. Their Christmas Limas are really spectacular too.
@sygyzy Ranch Gordo has a whole page of recipes- go crazy:
http://www.ranchogordo.com/html/rg_cook_index.htm
Personally, an overnight soak then simmering them in a mirepoix for about an hour does it for me. Just be sure and leave the salt out until you're about 45 minutes out, taste-checking a bean for doneness. This is the time to add an acid as well (both salt and acid will prevent beans from softening if you start with it). Let it go for another half hour and you're done.
I love their yellow eye beans.
I also love that they have a bucket full of mixed beans for people at the farmer's market to touch. Tactile beans!
I just ordered three different kinds of beans and some popcorn. Thanks for the suggestion. As a vegetarian, I am always looking for different things to try.