Going Viral
The Humble Bean Gets a High-End Glow-Up
The once-lowly legume is finding new fans, thanks to viral TikTok trends, a high fiber and protein count, and loads of new bean startups.
Photo illustration: Ryan Haskins for Bloomberg Businessweek; Photos: Bold Bean Co. (3); Hey Day (4); Getty Images (2)
Natalia Rudin, a cookbook author and former personal chef in London, has just performed a feat of culinary magic, starting with sautéed garlic, chili flakes and shallots and finishing with a dollop of creamy burrata. It looks like she’s whipped up a vibrant pesto gnocchi. But these aren’t pillowy potato dumplings filling her bowl—they’re beans. And if you’ve spent time online looking for dinner inspiration lately, you know they’re everywhere.