Fagiolino

Italians use fagiolini frequently, especially in summer when, as well as making a delicious summer vegetable, they are ideal as an ingredient in salads. This much appreciated vegetable comes in a widely varying number of varieties. Most green beans are collected when they are still young and not quite mature, so that they are tender and full of flavour. The smallest and most slender bean is Contender, although the slightly larger Bobis (Italian for Bobby) has a little more substance and, when fresh and picked very young, in my opinion tastes much better. Re dei bleu, (King of the Blues) is much longer than either of these, being about 15 cm (6 inches) in length and with a good flavour.