Sea Beans (Salicornia / Samphire)

Sea beans, also called samphire, salicornia, glasswort or sea asparagus, are a wild succulent that grows in salt marshes and on coastal rocks. Crisp, juicy and naturally salty, they taste like the ocean — no seasoning needed. Look for bright green, firm sprigs at fishmongers and high-end produce sections in late spring through early autumn. A 30-second blanch in boiling water keeps them crisp and tames the salt; a quick sauté in butter is the classic preparation. They pair beautifully with raw or seared fish, oysters, scallops and eggs. Skip the salt shaker entirely — sea beans bring all the salinity a dish needs.