Lupii Is Making Beans An Easy And Delicious Part Of Your Pantry

Have you ever heard of lupini beans? They sound pretty cute and, in fact, they are. Something between a lima bean and a kernel of corn, lupini beans have been around since the times of the ancient Egyptians and Romans. Because they were always very inexpensive, these beans were a common staple in many homes and relied upon as a source of protein.

The health benefits of lupini beans are astounding. Half a cup of them contains 13 grams of protein, which is three times the amount of protein you find in quinoa. Studies have shown that this protein is highly bioavailable, meaning that most of it is actually absorbed by the body and therefore goes to good use. Wouldn’t it be great if there was a way to incorporate this powerful food into our daily lives, as a snack and as a meal?

A Mean Little Bean

Fortunately, there’s a way to do both thanks to Lupii. Lupii was recently launched by marketing maven Allie Dempster and lupini-loving Isabelle Steichen, who both saw potential in the adorable lupini bean and believed in its power for nourishing the world. Besides being a very solid source for fiber, there are a few other qualities that make lupini beans quite unique.

As Dempster and Steichen note in this blog post, lupini beans contain all nine amino acids, making them a complete protein like meat or soy; they may help prevent cardiovascular disease and diabetes; and, because of their low levels of carbohydrates, they help regulate blood sugar levels. Best of all, Lupii delivers lupini beans in its products without any processing or added sugars so you get the whole bean and a whole lot of nutritional benefits.

To Bean Or Not To Bean?

Okay, enough with the health and science spiel—let’s get to the food. Lupii currently has snack bars in five different flavors and gluten-free pasta in three shapes on offer. All of the snack bars are made from lupini beans, dates, and no more than four other ingredients, depending on the flavor. I can tell you from first-hand experience that I quickly worked my way through the Variety Pack ($34.95) in two weeks because of how delicious and truly filling these little bars are.

I often find myself ravenously hungry in the middle of a workday because I’ve let too much time pass between meals and when I can’t get away from my desk, I have to turn to snacking to get me through the next couple of hours. Because so many snack bars, despite what their marketing touts, do have undesirable amounts of hidden sugars and aren’t really healthy, a handful of nuts or some fruit is sometimes the best option. Lupii is upgrading the snacking game by making bars that actually nourish you, making you feel full and energized in a naturally wholesome way. My favorite flavor from the Variety Pack is the Tahini Lemon Cranberry bar, which has citrus and fruit notes that balance out the earthier ingredients, and the Almond Butter Cinnamon Raisin pairs quite well with my morning coffee.

Lupii’s gluten-free pasta is just as nutritious and has more than twice the amount of fiber as gluten-free pastas made solely from chickpea flour. You can choose from rotini, penne, or elbows, but if you’re like me and can’t pick just one, Lupii offers a Pasta Sampler ($19.95) that’ll bring all three shapes to your home. I made the rotini the other night and was amazed by how well the pasta maintained its shape and by the fact that I was able to cook it to an al dente texture by reducing the suggested cooking time from 6-8 minutes (as noted on Lupii pasta boxes) to just 3-4 minutes. It made for a quick and easy weeknight dinner, and one I was able to trust was providing me with enough protein while being able to forgo any animal products.

Sometimes, less is more, and Lupii has proven this old adage by bringing its customers so much nutrition using lupini beans and just a few more ingredients.

5 More Reasons To Love Lupii:

1. If you want to have an IRL encounter with Lupii, there’s a handy map on Lupii’s site that can help you find a local grocery carrying its products.
2. Lupii strives to be sustainable and its boxes are all made out of recyclable cardboard.
3. Register for an account on Lupii’s site to earn points you can use every time you decide to fill your pantry with its products.
4. All Lupii products are vegan, keto friendly, gluten-free, and grain free which makes so many of our lives that much easier.
5. As if we haven’t emphasized this enough, lupini beans are full of protein—as much as three times the amount found in eggs!

Try Lupii for yourself here!