New Chef-Grade Beans & Pulses for Your Kitchen
Posted by Belazu on 2024-03-15
We’ve launched a trio of chef-grade beans and pulses, including Gordo Especial Chickpeas, Judion Butter Beans and Pardina Lentils. Belazu has supplied chefs throughout the UK with these store cupboard stables since May 2020. You can find them at Waitrose, Ocado and our website.
Now launching into retail, these versatile pulses come in two convenient formats: 370g and 700g.
The best part: They can be used straight from the jar across a range of hot and cold dishes, providing an easy way to add high-quality, plant-based protein to your diet.
Great-tasting on their own, they are also great flavour carriers, so you can use them to make a veggie centrepiece, silky hummus, or to lift meat and fish dishes.
The range of pulses is from a fourth-generation producer in the famous gastronomic region of La Rioja. The family is experts in preservation and continues to respect traditional methods that capture the 'flavours of the lands'.
Jarred beans have been a cornerstone of Spanish cooking for centuries. This association is so strong that the word chickpea can be used interchangeably with the word 'garbanzo', which is the direct Spanish translation.
The traditional Spanish Gordo Especial Chickpeas and luxurious Judion Butter Beans are both famous for their size - 'gordo' means fat, and 'judion' translates to large bean. Their thin skins give them a soft mouthfeel with no chalky texture; they have a creamy, buttery flavour and meaty texture.
Daniela Gattegno, Head Innovation Chef at Belazu, says:
"These beans are by far the best. We've travelled throughout Spain, trialling a huge amount of beans and pulses over the years, and are delighted to bring these quintessential Spanish staples – a favourite among professional chefs – into every kitchen. They're all perfectly seasoned and ideal for blending into dips and pâté, adding to vegetarian stews or as a base for fish or meat dishes. There's no need to drain, rinse or soak; just add the beans straight to the pan. You can even use the bean stock for added flavour in sauces and stews - think of it like a secret ingredient similar to pasta water to thicken and enrich sauces."
Larger than your average chickpea, Gordo Especial are creamy and meaty in texture. They are cooked in water with a pinch of salt and have a rich, nutty flavour and thin, tender skins. They are perfect for making homemade hummus.
Used throughout Spain, Pardina Lentils are slightly smaller than your average lentil but impart a nutty flavour with a mild peppery finish. They are perfectly cooked, holding their shape, texture and earthy green and brown colour.
Judion White Butter Beans are one of Spain's most loved beans due to their size and flavour. They are gently cooked to preserve their shape and extra thin skin, resulting in a delicately soft bean with a buttery and creamy flavour.
