Cowpea (also known as a black-eyed pea) is grown mainly for its edible beans, but what many people don’t know is that the crop can be grown as a vegetable. Its tender leaves and young pods are also edible and can be used to make delicious and nutritious vegetable dishes.
What type of vegetable is cowpea?
The cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) is an annual herbaceous legume from the genus Vigna. Its tolerance for sandy soil and low rainfall have made it an important crop in the semiarid regions across Africa and Asia.
What class of food is cowpea?
herbaceous legume
The cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.) is an annual herbaceous legume (family Fabaceae) grown predominantly in Africa and is an important staple crop providing an affordable source of protein (Muranaka et al., 2016).
Are cowpeas a bean or a pea?
Black-eyed peas (Vigna unguiculata) are a variety of the cowpea and are part of the family of beans & peas (Leguminosae or Fabaceae in the USA). Although called a pea, it is actually a bean. Both peas and beans are legumes, and both have edible seeds and pods.
Is cowpea a leafy vegetable?
Cowpea is used as a leafy and fruit vegetable, as well as a grain crop in food systems and is rich in carbohydrates, protein, minerals and vitamins.
Are cowpeas good for you?
Cowpeas are rich in fibers, plant-based proteins, vitamins (A, C, thiamine, riboflavin, folate, and B6), iron, selenium, zinc, magnesium, phosphorus, and copper, which have countless health benefits. The high fiber content and plant proteins in black-eyed peas reduce hunger hormones and enhance weight loss.
What is another name for cowpeas?
cowpea, (Vigna unguiculata), also called black-eyed pea or southern pea, annual plant within the pea family (Fabaceae) grown for its edible legumes.
Is cowpea a protein or carbohydrate?
Cowpea is a nutritious food source, rich in protein, digestible and nondigestible carbohydrates, and potassium with very low lipids and sodium content. Cowpeas also contain a number of essential amino acids, and polyphenols with antioxidant activity.
Why are they called cow peas?
The name “cowpea” was probably coined for their use as a fodder crop for cows, and while grown for their edible bean, the leaves and pods can also be consumed.
Can you eat cowpeas raw?
The pods are eaten raw or stir fried, and some may even add it to a soup or eat them steamed. Raw cowpeas are commonly added to papaya salad and make a great vegetable to dip into chili sauce dip.
What is the difference between cowpeas and beans?
Moreover, beans have a more solid stem while peas have a hollowed-out stem. Hence, this is another difference between beans and peas. Besides, a further difference between beans and peas is that the beans can be consumed fresh or in their dried form while peas are mostly consumed in their dried form.
What is the difference between cowpeas and field peas?
Field peas are cowpeas, so named because they were grown as a rotational crop in the fields instead of in kitchen gardens. Dozens of different types—what we now call heirloom selections—were grown in Southern communities that valued them for their flavor and ability to flourish in local conditions.
Is black-eyed peas a vegetable?
Black-eyed peas are part of the vegetable group. Foods from the vegetable group provide important nutrients like vitamin A, vitamin C, potassium and fiber. Based on MyPyramid, ½ cup of canned black- eyed peas provide ½ cup of vegetables from the vegetable group.
Can cowpeas be eaten like green beans?
I learned something great about cowpeas, which I didn’t realize before growing them. You can actually pick them at any time during the growing season. The tender, young pods can be eaten just like green beans. The larger, still green pods can be shelled, and the peas can be boiled and eaten fresh.
What do I do with cowpeas?
Young cowpea pods are best eaten fresh, canned, or frozen. Dry cowpeas must be soaked and boiled before eating.
What are the uses of cowpea?
Uses for cowpeas:
- The leaves and growth points can be picked and used as a vegetable dish.
- The leaves can be dried and used as a meat substitute.
- The green seeds are sometimes roasted like peanuts and these are then used as a substitute for coffee.
- Ground dried seeds mixed with onions and spices can be fried in oil.
Does cowpea cause constipation?
Promote digestive health
Black-eyed peas are a great source of soluble fiber, which is a key nutrient when it comes to digestive health. In fact, studies show that increasing your intake of soluble fiber can help promote regularity and increase stool frequency in those with constipation ( 8 ).
Can diabetics eat cowpea?
The cowpeas are abundant in soluble fibre and can be helpful for people suffering from diabetes. It can help you to regulate our blood sugar levels and keep that diabetes at bay. The cowpeas has a low glycemic index and be good for your blood lipid profile.
Do black-eyed peas raise blood sugar?
The soluble fiber in black eyed peas slows digestion, which helps the body regulate blood sugar levels and reduces the risk of blood sugar spikes. This lowered risk makes black eyed peas a healthy food choice for people with diabetes.
Where are cowpeas grown in the US?
Cowpeas: (Vigna catjang) (1897)
From this small and obscure beginning cowpeas spread throughout the South, and their cultivation has been essayed as far north as Connecticut, New York, and South Dakota, and westward to California. Cowpeas grow wild in far eastern tropical lands, including India, China, Siam, the.
What are the different types of cowpeas?
Black-eyed peaLower classifications