Broad Beans

A summer soup can be made from pods which have been immersed in water immediately after shelling to prevent blackening.Despite its reputation as a fairly hardy bulbous perennial,a bluebell plant may be killed by merely plucking one of its leaves. Every part of the plant is poisonous, so perhaps it is best not to 'stoop', and 'blush', and kiss thisEndymion sleeping.To make broad bean pur?e:

• boil the beans and a few of their pods, drain them and put them through a food blender with a clove or two of peeled garlic and enough of their cooking liquid to keep the mixture moist.
• Add a little olive oil or a spoonful or two of cream, lemon juice, salt and ground black pepper.
• Stir in chopped summer savoury-an easily raised summer herb that goes well with broad beans-or a handful of parsley.

The pur?e can be further enhanced by a sprinkling of streaky bacon pieces and triangles of hot fried bread.

• History of Broad Beans
• Growing Broad Beans
• Cooking Broad Beans