Show msnaunrf MWBH m Vs Try beans in new guises yi At New York's Dean n & DeLuca specialty food store buyer Philip Teverow now car- ries 40 bean varieties "up from maybe 12 ago" And we're not talking your five years f'’ J r Gourmet varieties l'&i V ££ & i) fc rgr ('-- Sweet white runner 2rY£ 'r I£ basic navy beans and pintos Among them: ? i V t i " ' are marked like Guernsey cows A i - cold sal- and fresh sage would show them off mi These tender green kidney Flageolet beans have long been popular in Europe and are now top sellers for Dean & DeLuca "They're not at all grainy' says Teverow and make a great cassoulet stewed with ’ -- 'V etching on a white field makes a pretty V aaw lamb and bacon Christmas lima The distinctive purple jv — —j only along the equator high in the Andes The USDA is hard at work on a domestic strain and imported snacks should start appearing here soon Meanwhile beans have gotten a boost from several recent studies on both cholesterol and colon cancer In a University of Kentucky study conducted by fiber researcher James Anderson men with high cholesterol levels ate Wi cups of beans a day (Beans are high in soluble fiber which researchers believe can help lower cholesterol levels) Indeed after three weeks of eating beans the subjects’ cholesterol levels chopped by 19 percent and their LDL levers — the “bad” cholesterol — were reduced by 24 percent Smaller amounts of canned beans seem to offer similar benefits says Anderson Just one-ha-lf cup of canned beans per day resulted in a 13 percent total cholesterol drop over a period of three weeks Now University of Toronto researchinvestigating whether beans have additional t” ingredients — beyond soluble fiber — that help lower cholesterol Though the Toronto study is ongoing already “there is enough evidence to show that beans should be eaten by everyone” says researcher Lilian ers are “anti-nutrien- Thompson And beans may offer another health benefit They also contain insoluble fiber thought to be beneficial in preventing certain forms of colon cancer So how to add more beans to your daily diet? Liebman suggests experimenting with such dishes as bean tacos a side dish of rice and red beans a salad of sprinkled with garlic or a hearty black bean soup Most people already get plenty of protein in their diets says Liebman But if you don’t add a simple grating of cheese or a serving of rice pasta or bread to the beans to complete the protein Despite all the pluses beans do have minuses They require long cooking times — not exactly a boon for cooks in a hurry — and then there’s “the fear of bloating” as Liebman delicately describes beans’ often indelicate effect on the dios gestive system To fight gas “increase your bean consumption very slowly and increase your fluid intake at the same time” says Belinda Smith a registered dietitian at the University of Kentucky The gas is the result of temporary fiber overload your body will quickly adjust she says and you’ll soon be able to eat large servings with no distress As for long cooking times Liebman has a quick answer Buy canned beans “I stack up cans in my pantry Just rinse canned Vans to remove excess salt and to make them easier to digest They make a fast and easy dinner” By Dfani Bartley USA WEEKEND May 6 4-- 1990 23 in cold salads mixes Ready-to-mak- e of beans and seasonings like Dean & Deluca's Select Preparations line Already on the market: Flageolets an a la Bretonne with sauce and a French Lentil herb-tomat- o Salad combining lentils with a creamy basil and cumin mayonnaise topping (All available from specialty stores and Dean & DeLuca For the among us even speedier bean products are on the horizon pouches of seasoned beans are in development says Microwaveable quick-coo- k duck the red eye of this Latest heart products Also available: a ad of black olives tomatoes lemon juice ' nnavTYi"- A In A potato garlic and olive oil pur§e I soldier white kidney bean see the silhouette of a These are big — Jacob's cattle These red and white beans - European soldier at attention Tasty "one bean per forkful" says Teverow great way to serve them: Dip beans in ' and the flavor is like that of a bean chestnut — perfect for stuffings or folded into wild rice John McGill of the National Council Dry Bean And frozen be3n entrees and side dishes could make an appearance soon |