Legume
Borlotti
S tier
Borlotti are Italian cranberry beans—cream with magenta speckles, chestnut-like flavour, creamy texture—essential in pasta e fagioli and ribollita variants. Fresh borlotti in mottled pods are a late-summer prize; dry beans are pantry staples. Simmer with aromatics; the broth turns savory pink-brown. Mash partly for body. One of Italy’s most beloved beans.
Track this ingredient
Unit
Characteristics
Preparations
Fresh or DryMashPasta e Fagioli
Traits
ChestnuttyCreamyIconicItalian CranberrySavoury BrothSpeckled
History
IT
Borlotti beans became staples of northern and central Italian farm kitchens.
International Italian cooking popularised borlotti beyond Italy.
Fresh borlotti seasons became farmers-market events in many countries.