If you haven’t heard of them yet, prepare to add a line to your grocery list. A member of the pea family, Lupini Beans (also referred to as Lupin or Lupine Beans), have been sweeping the world with their distinctive flavor and ability to be added to dishes or eaten on their own as a healthy snack. While they’re originally from the Middle East, Lupini have become a regular staple in Italian households, and are commonly eaten by people of all ages in most every region.

The round, flat Lupini have been served since before Ancient Roman times.  They are also popular in Greece, Spain and Portugal and more countries around the Mediterranean, but have come to be most closely associated with Italian cuisine. Look for the real thing typically sold in jars—these beans are marinated to help enhance the flavor and prepare them for being eaten.  

Prepared Lupini are chock-full of proteins, containing little to no sugar and are a great source of fiber. Eating them s on a regular basis can promote weight loss, improved digestion, good heart health and a better skin tone among many other favorable effects! Lupini also contain a vast amount of minerals, including iron, calcium, magnesium, zinc, and potassium. They’re also an effortless way to get in vitamins such as B, C, D, E, K and folic acid.

Choosing Flora’s Lupini Beans in Brine  ensures you get top quality, authentic Italian flavor.  Try them straight from the jar, as part of an antipasto, on salads, or to make dips or hummus.  They’re great as a quick afternoon bite. 

Another way to enjoy the Beans is by combining them with lime juice, olive oil, salt and pepper to add even more flavor. Once the ingredients are combined, place them on a lined/greased baking sheet and bake for 10-20 minutes at 400 degrees. To make sure your baked Lupini Beans are crunchy, stir them in the pan about halfway through baking.

Once cooked, Lupini Beans have a neutral, almost nutty flavor, and are considered to have a similar taste to garbanzo beans. Having real Lupini means a chance to savor the moment almost like a trip to Italy—in miniature.  Your taste buds will thank you.