When I first heard the title, “The Power of Pulses,” I was perplexed as to the subject of the book. The word pulse has many meanings! This is a book better defined by its sub-title: “Saving the World with Peas, Beans, Chickpeas, Favas & Lentils.”
To be more precise, a pulse is a legume harvested mainly for the dry seed. The primary author, Dan Jason of Salt Spring Island, British Columbia, has chosen to concentrate on the five that are the easiest to grow in the temperate climates of Canada and the northern United States.
The sub-title also hints at Jason’s proselytizing zeal for growing these plants. Of course, he also sells them through his company, Salt Spring Seeds. But never mind this possible conflict; this is an excellent introduction to these easy-to-grow, highly nutritious, and earth-friendly foods that require little water and no fertilizer. While generally very positive, the author is not afraid to express his disgust on certain matters, noting “…the common white navy bean has practically no taste and a texture that leaves everything to be desired.”
The last part of the book is devoted to 50 vegetarian recipes using pulses and contributed by the co-authors, sisters Hilary Malone and Alison Malone Eathorne of Nanaimo, British Columbia. These tasty sounding treats take you well beyond traditional soups and stews to everything from breakfast to desserts.
Excerpted from the Summer 2017 Arboretum Bulletin.