If you want to know all about legumes you've come to the right place! Get a list of legumes, cooking guides, pictures, examples, types, and lots of information. Plus, you can find out answers to questions like What are legumes? Are green beans a legume? Read on to get all the answers.
The legume family (Leguminosae or Fabaceae) is very diverse with nearly 20,000 species worldwide. These nutritious foods include many beans, peas, lentils, soya, and even licorice!
Legumes are a dietary staple all around the world. They're also often a big part of vegan and vegetarian diets and often found on vegan grocery lists, not only for their variety of tastes but because they're a great source of fiber and protein.
But although you may love black beans, broad beans, and chickpeas, you may have a lot of questions about this classification of vegetables.
So this article is here to not only give you a list of legumes but to answer all your questions!
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What are legumes?
You're probably here because you're wondering, what are legumes?
It's simple: Legumes are edible seeds that grow in pods, in the Fabaceae or Leguminosae botanical family.
Types of legume include beans, peas, peanuts, lentils, and lupins.
Green peas and green beans are eaten in their immature form. Dried peas, chickpeas, beans, and lentils are eaten in their mature form.
Legumes come in a variety of shapes, colors, and sizes. They can be found in many formats including dried, canned, cooked, frozen, split, or ground into flours.
Legumes refer to all beans, peas, and lentils, including fresh and dried.
They play an important role in human health, providing an inexpensive and nutritious source of fiber and plant-based protein.
Try them in these lists of the 15 Best Lentil Recipes and 18 Best Bean Recipes.
Fun fact: Lentils have been eaten since 6,750BC in what is now the Middle East.
Types of legumes
- Beans - such as pinto beans, black beans, black-eyed peas, cannellini beans, kidney beans, chickpeas (garbanzo beans), great northern beans. Tofu, from soybeans, is a legume.
- Peas - such as English peas, snow peas, mangetout, sugar snap peas.
- Peanuts
- Lentils - such as red lentils, brown lentils, green lentils, puy lentils.
- Lupins - popular served pickled in Mediterranean countries, lupini are small round yellow beans.
Are legumes a vegetable?
Yes, a legume is considered to be a vegetable. They are a classification of vegetables that includes beans, lentils, and peas.
They belong to the vegetable food group. Other food groups are fruit, protein, dairy, and grains.
Try them in these recipes: Green Beans with Cranberries and Pecans, Green Beans Almondine, and Green Bean Casserole.
Are green beans a legume?
Yes. Since the fruit of the green bean plant is inside a pod, green beans are legumes.
What are pulses?
Pulses are dried edible seeds that grow in pods (legumes). They include dried peas, beans and lentils. Pulses are rich in fiber, protein, carbohydrates, and nutrients such as B vitamins.
Although pulses are part of the legume family, the main difference is that pulses are dried. Therefore, fresh peas are considered legumes, while dried peas are also considered pulses.
Many pulses need to be soaked before cooking, but smaller pulses, such as dried red lentils, can be cooked without soaking.
Since they are dried, pulses are inedible when uncooked. They must be rehydrated to restore the moisture that is removed in the drying process. This is usually done by soaking or boiling. Soaking first often reduces the cooking time.
Types of pulses include dried split peas, black beans, kidney beans, and chickpeas, but do not include soybeans, peanuts, or fresh beans. They are all considered to be legumes as well as pulses.
Fun fact: The word 'pulse' comes from the Latin word puls, which translates to mean seeds that can be made into a thick soup.
Examples of Legumes
If you're wondering which vegetables are legumes, here is a list of many common varieties:
- alfalfa sprouts
- adzuki beans
- bean sprouts
- black beans
- black-eyed peas
- borlotti beans
- broad beans / fava beans
- chickpeas / garbanzos
- green beans
- kidney beans
- lentils
- licroice
- lima beans / butter bean
- mangetout
- mung beans
- navy beans
- peanuts
- pinto beans
- split peas
- sugar snap peas
- soy beans / tofu
- peas
Recipes
Now that you've had all your questions answered, you will probably want to cook up some of these healthy beans, peas and lentils.
The good news is that there are SOOOO many recipes to try, from many cuisines around the world. We hope you'll find plenty of inspiring ways to incorporate them into your diet more often.
So, if you're looking for legume recipes using these healthy veggies, then here are plenty! Try a Legume Salad or Mashed Legumes on Toast.
Try these recipes too:
Legume Recipes
Make the most of healthy legumes with these great recipes! The vegetarian and vegan recipes contain hero ingredients that are edible seeds that grow in pods, in the Fabaceae or Leguminosae botanical family - making them legumes!
This one-pot easy tomato soup is chunky and hearty and full of legumes in the form of white beans!
Turn red beans (legumes) plus vegetables into this hearty red bean stew. Full of flavor and healthy comfort food.
You'll love this easy, classic Chana Masala curry, full of healthy chickpeas (garbanzo beans).
Moroccan flavors make this easy chickpea soup full of great flavors. It's easy to make and full of nourishing ingredients.
Blend white beans with carrot tops (or parsley) to make this delicious dip. Perfect for chips or veggies.
This carrot salad has chickpeas, raisins and a tasty dressing. Perfect for summertime.
Flavorful broad beans (fava beans) are perfect mashed with avocado and seasonings, then spread on toast. A great light lunch or appetizer.
Sauteed butter beans add a great texture to this spring salad full of radishes and asparagus.
This dal tadka is a classic Indian curry. You'll love the rich, bold flavors.
This easy blended lentil soup recipe is quick to make, and full of nourishing legumes (red lentils).
Kidney beans form the base of this rich and tasty curry. Full of nourishing ingredients and super easy to make!
Tofu is made with soybeans, so is considered a legume. It's great served on skewers with Persian flavors.
Vegetables and chickpeas are perfect in a vegan tagine - full of Moroccan flavors.
Add corn and kidney beans to your mac and cheese, for a great Tex-Mex flavor!
Shredded carrots, Moroccan spices and chickpeas all combine in these simple fritters. Perfect as a side dish or light dinner served with salad.
Cubes of tofu are the perfect vehicle for a tangy, sweet Asian-style sauce. Perfect with steamed greens and rice.
Jamaican jerk spices are delicious on tofu vegetable skewers. Perfect cooked on the grill and served with rice and beans. Double the legumes!
This easy, comforting lentil stew is spiced up with rich and bold harissa paste. So tasty and nourishing.
Use lentils for a veggie or vegan filling in these cute little mini tacos!
You only need 15 minutes to make this rich and tasty chickpea curry! Serve it with a scoop of rice and steamed kale for a full meal.
Cubes of tofu are cooked in a rich Indian spiced gravy. You'll love this quick and easy curry recipe!
Whiz up peas and chickpeas (both legumes!) into this flavorful hummus!
Chickpeas for the texture and bulk in these cute vegan 'chicken' nuggets!
Tofu gets wonderfully crispy when cooked in the air fryer. Serve it on top of a flavorful noodle salad!
Make this Spanish-inspired bean stew in no time. Perfect served with rice, mashed potato or on its own with bread to dunk.
This Mexican bean soup is filled with nourishing legumes! Delicious served with tortillas, salsa and avocado.
This red lentil dhal is always popular on this website! So many readers make it again and again!
This vegan shepherd's pie uses nourishing lentils to form the base. They're a great texture and full of goodness. Instead of mashed potato on top, try it with crushed baby potatoes!
This West African-inspired peanut stew is full of veggies and seasonings. It has a wonderful rich flavor.
Make these 'popped beans' in minutes and serve them on salads, soups, or as a side dish. They have a great texture and taste amazing with lots of fresh herbs.
This vibrant hummus is full of chickpeas, seasonings and beets! It's so beautiful, particularly serve with an avocado rose.
Black beans are perfect in these Mexican tortilla bowls. A full meal that looks incredible and is easy to make!
Refried beans are an easy way to make a bean burger! Simple and soooo tasty.
You can also find out more about veggies with this Vegetables List.
You may also be interested in a list of the Cruciferous Vegetables.
Be sure to also check out this list of Vegetables That Start with A, as well other lists with the rest of the alphabet.
Looking for some recipes? Find Vegetarian Recipes You'll Love.
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