Borlotti beans

A large round bean striped red on pink, hence the name, fagioli scritti (written beans). Now available fresh in the UK in August and September, but usually purchased dried. Borlotti di Lamon are the largest, most superior and most expensive. In shops in Florence and Siena we have seen up to four sizes of borlotti sold in their dried form.

In Piedmont, borlotti beans are cooked overnight in the wood ovens used for pizzas and bread-baking.