String beans: learn how to make delicious northeastern dishes

Have you heard of cowpeas? They are just one of the many types that exist, but they are the ones that can be used to make delicious dishes.

It is consumed throughout Brazil, but mainly in the Brazilian Northeast, and brings countless benefits to those who consume it.

It is a very nutritious and versatile food and can be used in a variety of recipes, from soups and stews to salads and side dishes for main dishes.

Cowpeas are rich in protein, fiber, iron, calcium, magnesium, zinc, B vitamins and other essential nutrients for our body.

Additionally, it is considered a low glycemic index food, which means that it releases sugar into the blood more slowly, providing energy for longer and helping to control blood sugar levels.

2 recipes for string beans

Discover some recipes to make the most of cowpeas and their flavors:

1 – String beans with jerky

For this recipe you will need:

• 500g of green string beans;
• 200g of fresh beef;
• 50g of jerky, bacon and smoked meat;
• 1 tomato;
• 1 large onion;
• 2 tablespoons chopped bell pepper;
• 1 tablespoon chives;
• 1 heaping tablespoon of chopped parsley;
• ½ cup olive oil;
• 3 liters of boiling water.

Before starting your recipe, you will need to soak the saltiest meats, such as jerky, bacon and smoked meat. Leave them to soak for at least 2 hours.

While you wait for this time, chop all the ingredients such as onion, bell pepper, parsley, onion and pepper. Then put water in a pan to boil.

To clean the beans, wash them in running water and after 2 hours of soaking, drain the water from the meat and place them in a pan with water, place on high heat and let it boil.

Place another pan over medium heat and add the olive oil along with the bacon, leave for two minutes or until golden and then add the smoked meat along with the jerky.

Wait until these pieces also turn golden and then add the beef. As soon as it starts to cook and take on color, add your seasonings, covering the pan so that they wilt.

Leave it on high heat and stir occasionally with a spoon. And that's when you put the 3 liters of water to boil in another pan.

In the container with the meat, add the beans and stir for at least 1 minute. Then add 1.5 liters of water and with the pan half covered, let it cook.

After about 30 minutes, add the other half of the water. And when the beans are soft they will be ready, just put the salt and enjoy!

2 – Black-eyed pea salad

And to prepare this delicious salad, you will need:

• 500g of cowpeas;
• 6 units of maxixe;
• ½ bunch of parsley;
• ½ bunch of chives;
• ¼ cup olive oil;
• 1 small onion, chopped.

For this recipe you will need to put water, salt and beans in a pan and let it cook for up to 15 minutes.

Take the gherkin and cut it into slices of the desired size, and place them in a baking dish with a drizzle of olive oil and salt.

Bake the maxixe for 30 minutes at 180°C and set aside until it cools. After that, mix the onion, olive oil, chives and parsley.

Finally, add the beans to this mixture along with the maxixe and mix all the ingredients well.