Coco de Paimpol

Coco de Paimpol

What it is

A fresh shelling bean rather than a dried one, sold still in its marbled pod and podded by hand — Brittany calls the work le plumage. It holds an AOC, and the season is short enough that most of the country never sees it.

In the kitchen

It needs no soaking, unlike every dried bean. Forty minutes in unsalted water and it is done.

Goes with

Thyme Garlic Tomato Olive oil Lamb Onion Bay leaf Parsley

Same species

Ayocote bean Black bean Borlotti bean Cannellini bean Faba asturiana Flageolet

In season alongside

Pumpkin Arbutus berry Butternut squash Cabbage Cauliflower Elephant garlic

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