Sea Beans - Have you ever had them? I never did until today.

[Stinky The Clown]

http://gothamist.com/2007/06/20/sea_beans_much.php

We had them as a raw garnish on a green salad. They have an intense salty, briny taste even though they're from nowhere near the ocean. They're also quite pricey - $10/lb! Fortunately, you need very little of them. More than enough for the salad were only 60¢.

I would use them as a very tasty garnish again.

[beac]

1. And they look a bit like sea weed, or a sea creature, too!

Apparently, they do like "saline conditions", so maybe that's where some of the salty taste comes from.

Found this site and bookmarked for possible addition to my 2012 garden: http://www.victoriananursery.co.uk/vegetable_plants/samphire_plant/

(Had to Google "samphire seeds" b/c "sea bean seeds" was getting me mostly results for "seeds and fruits that are carried to the ocean, often by freshwater streams and rivers, then drift with the ocean currents and... wash ashore."http://www.seabean.com/what.asp

And it seems they are quite good for you, too.


Thanks for the heads up, Stinky!

[beac]

2. LOL, Stinky. You've sent me down a "sea beans" internet rabbit hole.

I've been Googling away for the past 45 minutes.

It seems the UK is the place to go for this tasty green treat.

Found a page from my favorite British food "presenter" Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2007/jun/30/features.weekend Love the "small knob of butter" or "good knob of butter" ingredients. :)

The BBC also has some tasty-sounding recipes: http://www.bbc.co.uk/food/samphire Check out the "Brunch" section for "Posh bubble and squeak" :)

[Denninmi]

3. Never tried this particular plant. But, I have grown Agretti.

Agretti, aka Land Seaweed.

It's very similar in concept, appearance, and flavor to the Sea Bean plant. And, its a really quick crop, about 4 to 6 weeks from seed to harvest.

Interesting in a salad. In Japan and Korea, I understand they pickle it, which makes sense seeing as they pickle most any vegetable. I wanted to try that, but didn't.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salsola_soda

These two companies both sell the seed, but apparently both got it from the same seed house in Italy, and there was a 2011 crop failure. Hopefully available in 2012.

http://www.growitalian.com/agretti-roscana-barba-di-fratte/


http://www.gourmetseed.com/c=htVQvy9BAT1ovU4KcspXILLDQ/category/gourmet_seed.vegetable_seed.gourmet_greens/

[GoCubsGo]

4. I have never heard it called that.

I know it by its scientific name, Salicornia. The Brits call it "marsh samphire". And, actually, it IS from near the ocean. It grows in salt marshes, along beaches, and in mangroves. I can vouch for the saltiness, as it really is salty.