pulses – FoodWise

Heard of Carlin Sunday?

By Zoe Parker

Published 25th March 2025

We recently had a discussion in our local community about Carlin peas, a type of traditional northern mushy peas. A few people shared memories of “Carlin Sunday,” a special day dedicated to these peas, which falls on April 6 this year. This tradition is particularly popular in northern England, where Carlin peas, also known as black peas or black badgers, are enjoyed.

One person recalled celebrating Carlin Sunday in the 1970s in Batley, traditionally on the fifth Sunday in Lent, which again falls in April this year. Others remembered eating these flavorful peas with a ham bone during Bonfire Night celebrations in the 1970s.

Inspired by these stories, we’re excited to highlight this traditional ingredient and encourage you to try them. Carlin peas have been grown in Britain for centuries, though they are not as widely known today. They offer a creamy, nutty, and slightly sweet taste and can be a nutritious addition to your meals. They are economical, have a long shelf life of 6-12 months, and are ideal for sprouting. Here are some suggestions for cooking them, places where you might find them, and reasons why they deserve a place in your kitchen. Why not give them a try this Carlin Sunday?

Hodmedods say:

“Why on earth aren’t these beauties in every kitchen cupboard?!’ Was definitely our first thought when we started cooking with them – let’s put that right”
⁠

Buy directly from Holland and Barrett stores nationwide. You can also buy them ready prepared by Bold Bean Co’s Queen Carlin Peas at @waitrose or direct from @hodmedods. You can find lots of carlin pea recipes and ideas about ways you can use carlin peas in the Useful Links section. Enjoy Carlin peas in hummus, stews, or with your fish and chips.

hodemdod team with banner and jars of pulses

“And with just one spoon from the jar – seriously, they taste like banging old school mushy peas – we truly think you’ll be convinced. Give them a go!” – Bold Bean Co

Northern Seed Sovereignty in partnership with Middlesbrough Environment City, are hosting an afternoon devoted to this special pea, which is significant to Middlesborough. They’ll be cooking with it, eating it, and growing it and sharing stories of its history in the north east of England. For those of you based or visiting Middlesborough, you can book your ticket to ‘Carlin Wednesday’ using this link. This event is a collaborative activity between the Gaia Foundation‘s Seed Sovereignty Programme and Middlesbrough Environment City and is part of the Northern Pulse Collaboration.

#NorthernPulseCollaboration is a brilliant collaborative project that’s looking at growing, cooking and eating more pulse crops across the region -including the amazing Carlin Peas. Find out more here.

Useful Links

Hodmedods

Bold Bean Co

Northern Seed Sovereignty

Carlin Pea Recipes

Share the pulse love! Can you
use your networks and
connectedness to spread the
message far and wide? Let’s build
a pulse movement!
Will you celebrate Carlin Sunday?
Let us know in the comments!

Raise your pulses this 2025

By Zoe Parker

Published 24th February 2025

We’ve got our finger on the pulse this Winter. Read on to find out all our healthy, sustainable and fair food news.

Power to the Pulses – We are on a mission to get people eating more pulses. Think fish and chips with a side of mushy peas, or the more recent menu additions like dhal and hummus. These little powerhouses boost your health, help our planet, and ease the strain on your wallet too! Read more about pulses and we have our finger on the pulse: Celebrating Pulses and Northern England has it’s finger on the pulse.

Please join GFEI’s upcoming webinar by Dr Andy Newing, School of Geog. Andy will deliver a webinar exploring if online groceries and branded convenience stores help alleviate contemporary food deserts (neighbourhoods lacking good access to fresh, healthy and affordable food).

Eventbrite: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/neighbourhood-inequalities-in-access-to-food-stores-tickets-1106183036239?aff=oddtdtcreator

market in leeds with a woman buying fruit and veg

Traditional Food Markets – In the UK eight supermarkets currently control 95% of the grocery market (Kantar World Panel), yet traditional food markets have potential to contribute to a more sustainable and equitable food system addressing pressing issues like the cost-of-living crisis and climate change. Prof Sara Gonzalez explores how a new research project advocates for public policies that can expand the region’s ‘right to food’ here.

Love is in the Pulses – We are interested in raising pulses in our communities. World Pulses Day is celebrated on February 10th each year. It’s an international day that recognises the importance of pulses for health, sustainable living and you can get involved by going to FAO website. Or Check out this informative article from The Food Foundation and from FAO on the Power of Pulses.

Support Community Composting!
A huge thank you to Annie Whitehead for her outstanding efforts in promoting community composting in Leeds. Annie is also the 2025 winner of BEST COMPOSTING in Feed Leeds Growing Awards.

She also took on the challenge of weighing all her food waste before composting it over a year, diverting 115 kg from one household! Imagine the impact if every household did this. Want to support similar projects? If you can, please consider donating and/ or sharing with your networks via this link.

Share, Eat and Celebrate Good Food:
Feed Leeds had their annual celebration at Meanwood Farm to celebrate local food growing heroes with their Local Food Growing Awards presentations this week. It was a great evening for networking and learning about food growing projects across Leeds, accompanied by a delicious meal. A little film about Get Growing Leeds here:

International Women’s Day 2025
Celebrate International Women’s Day with the classic Palestinian dish Maqluba (vegan option available) whilst watching the film ‘Bye Bye Tiberias’ made by Lina Soualem as part of Leeds Palestinian Festival at HEART Centre Leeds on 7 Mar 6pm. More info here.

food stories illustration of a diverse group eating food

Food Stories
This February why not come together to talk over food? Food Stories is a free community project in Leeds designed to bring people together through the power of food. Funded by Tracy Brabin and West Yorkshire Combined Authority, and Leeds City Council, and delivered by the Leeds-based charity Zest. Read more here about the Meanwood project.

man stood by mass produce of food in crate

‘Good Samaritan Laws and Surplus Food – A Solution in Need of a Problem?’

The Global Food and Environment Institute (GFEI) invites you to their February 2025 webinar.
Redistributing surplus food minimizes waste and addresses food insecurity. Since 2015, the UK has tripled its efforts, yet much potential remains untapped due to “fear of liability” among donors concerning recipient health.

Not your Average Corner Shop

A shout out to Eat Your Greens and Greens Grocer. It is the newly opened grocers in the Climate Innovation District down by Leeds Dock. They champion fresh organic healthy produce available in the UK. And while you are down there, why not check out Pig Love and Fearns.
They love to showcase incredible organic veg and other locally sourced products.

Want a Super Fresh Veg Box?

Ever fancied having a super-fresh, chemical-free veg box every week, from an actual farm? Join the Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) scheme where you, the eaters, are directly supporting the food growers and local food in the community.

There are schemes you can join locally at Meanwood Valley Farm and Kirkstall Valley Farm

Why not give it a go?

Courses at Leeds Cookery School – The new year is here, and so is Leeds Cookery School’s exciting line-up of cookery classes that promise to tantalise your taste buds.

Leeds Cookery School have a range of brilliant courses. We really liked the look of their Street Food Express: Dim Sum class.

Why not book a class for a friend or loved one?

Lunch Club from Eat Your Greens – Is February the new January? Eat Your Greens think so, and are keeping a bit of that January spirit alive to help us all power through with Lunch Club – 2 for £15 on selected plates every Thursday and Friday between 12 and 3pm. Eat Your Greens create delicious and sustainably prepared dishes, supporting local organic producers because, (in their own words) it’s good for the planet, good for you and good for the farmers that grow it.

Let’s give them some love!

Cooking with Pulses – Did you know that pulses count as one of your five -a-day? So why not add more pulses like beans, peas and lentils to your tea? Like one of these carlin peas recipes from Hodemedods, whose pulses and grains are British-grown – and always will be!

Find more recipes with peas, beans and other pulses in the recipes section of our website. Got your own great recipe with pulses? Add it to our recipes so we can share with others.

Celebrating Pulses!

By Sonja Woodcock

Published 10th February 2025

Today we’re celebrating World Pulses Day! Why Pulses?

Pulses are the edible mature dried seeds of leguminous plants such as beans, peas, chickpeas and lentils. Beyond being delicious, affordable and nutritious, pulses are play an important role in sustainable farming adding nitrogen to the soil and attracting pollinators.

FoodWise is part of the Northern Pulses Collaboration, a group that’s looking at growing, cooking and eating more pulse crops across the region. We recently took a trip to Hodmedods in Suffolk to deepen our learning and to look at how we can encourage the growing and eating of more pulses in the North. To learn more about our trip, see Northern England has its finger on the pulse!

In Leeds we’re on a mission to discover the heritage of growing and eating pulses, think fish and chips with a side of mushy peas, and the more recent additions to our menus such as dhal and hummus. We want to celebrate pulses and encourage people to eat more, especially those that can be grown in England.

Tonight, I’ll be having UK grown fava bean stew to celebrate World Pulses Day. Tell us about your favourite pulses – share a recipe and a story. #lovepulses