Edible or Poisonous?

Do not eat raw!

You should never eat firebeans raw! They are poisonous. It is the phasin contained in them, a lectin that is a poisonous protein compound and causes confusion in the body. But this lectin is destroyed at temperatures above 75 ° C. Therefore, the following applies: Firebeans are only poisonous when they are raw.

Cooked and fermented edible

You can eat the whole, young pods as well as the later ripening seeds. The bean seeds are extremely nutritious and fill you up well. The flowers of the fire bean plant are also edible. You can even eat them raw. They are suitable, for example, as a decorative element for serving dishes.

While the taste of the blossoms is reminiscent of sugar snap peas or the blossoms of the flat pea, the bean seeds taste nutty and, with their floury consistency, are reminiscent of chestnuts. You can also ferment the beans (sour beans). Even in this state they are non-toxic, as the lectins are broken down by the fermentation process.

What can you use firebeans for?

Fire beans can be used like normal beans. If they are dry, they should be soaked in water for 12 to 24 hours before cooking. This shortens the cooking process. Here are a few preparation ideas:

• for soups
• for salads
• fried as a vegetable with meat
• for purees
• with rice
• as a filling for dumplings
• for casseroles

A Styrian specialty

In Styria, Austria, firebeans are even a specialty. They are called bug beans there. A beetle bean salad is often found in restaurants. It consists of fire beans, onions, vinegar and salt.