Phaseolus vulgaris 'Borlotto lingua di fuoco'

Borlotto lingua di fuoco is a climbing variety of french bean. It is a duel purpose bean that can be eaten young in the pod either raw or cooked (they look stunning chopped into salads), or they can be shelled and used like a flageolet beans, or shelled and dried. The handsome red speckling disappears when they are cooked.

Borlotto beans are basically the Italian version of kidney beans, hailing originally from the New World; Italians traditionally use them in soups and stews.