Author: Eden Owen-Jones

Creamy, comforting white coco beans simmered with leeks, fennel, and white miso, finished with crisp, cheesy golden croutons.

A comforting bowl of naked fava beans and mixed greens, elevated by a quick and aromatic mustard and fennel seed infused oil.

A British-grown take on Sicilian street food. These crisp, golden "Pea’nelle" fritters made from yellow split pea flour are served alongside delicate, batter-fried pumpkin, finished with a sweet and spicy honey-chilli glaze.

This dish allows the leeks and peas to cook and soften together slowly, lending their flavours to each other. Cooking the peas slowly helps release their starch, giving the dish an overall creamier consistency. The salsa verde adds a great savoury tang. Author Eden Owen-Jones is an avid listener of the Home Cooking podcast with Samin Nosrat and Hrishikesh Hirway and there is only so many times she could hear Samin talk about this salsa without trying to make a version for herself – we think it works really nicely here. 

Much like chickpeas, flamingo peas really come into their own once they’ve had time to soak up flavour. Here, Eden Owen-Jones cooks them marinated with lemon, garlic, fennel seeds and soft herbs, creating a punchy, fragrant base you’ll want to keep on hand for salads, toast toppers and more.

A comforting, spiced pilaf made with chewy emmer grain and a mix of golden-browned wild mushrooms.

This simple yet impressive dish is full of bold flavours and satisfying textures. Juicy tomatoes are filled with a hearty mixture of creamy white coco beans, savoury mushrooms, and fragrant spices, then roasted until meltingly tender. Finished with a drizzle of spiced curry leaf butter, it brings together earthy, citrusy, and warming notes in a dish that works beautifully as a starter, a light lunch, or a vibrant side

This rich and earthy stew is the perfect comforting dish for cooler evenings. Made with nutty borlotti beans and a medley of mushrooms, it’s deeply savoury with a touch of sweetness from marsala wine. Dried porcini add an extra layer of umami, while rosemary and garlic bring warmth and depth.

Eden's latest recipe is inspired by the Catalan method of adding dry or fried bread to dishes to thicken sauces and make them more luxurious. Paired with the briny and acid dressing, this is a great way to eat beans, not at all heavy but both savoury and bright. Best served with salad and bread – double bread! – why not?