Legume
Kidney Bean
Kidney beans are large, curved Phaseolus vulgaris beans with a robust skin and dense, meaty interior. Red kidney beans dominate chilli, rice-and-beans, and stews; white kidney (cannellini-adjacent large whites) and lighter red types appear in European braises and salads. They keep their shape better than many softer beans when simmered, and must be fully cooked—undercooked kidney beans can cause digestive upset. Dried and canned forms are both common.
Also known as: Rajma
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History
Common bean types including kidney-shaped landraces were domesticated in the Americas.
Columbian exchange carried kidney-type beans to Europe, Africa, and Asia.
Red kidney beans became a staple of American chilli and Southern bean cookery.
Canned kidney beans made the type a global convenience pulse.