Legumes are a special type of crops that differ from other grains in their higher protein content. One of the most famous legumes is peas, but this crop is much more diverse.
Legumes
Legumes are a valuable source of vegetable protein that is widely used for food by both humans and animals. They belong to the dicotyledonous family and are distributed in various parts of the world, since they can grow in a variety of climatic conditions, ranging from arid regions to mountainous terrain.
Pulses are also called pulses due to the special shape of their fruit, which is usually round or oval, reminiscent of a grain. At the same time, however, the fruits of legumes are usually larger than those of cereals: as a rule, they are at least 3 centimeters and can reach 1.5 meters. Most legumes have their seeds wrapped in a special shell called a pod.
The nutritional value of legumes is that, at a fairly low cost, they contain a significant amount of protein: on average, 100 grams of legumes account for 22 to 25 grams of protein. This figure is significantly higher than, for example, in cereals, 100 grams of which contain 8-13 grams of protein. In addition, 60-70% of the weight of a legume is starch, and another 1-3% is fat.
Types of legumes
Legumes are one of the most diverse plant species: their number is about 18 thousand species, and a significant part of them are edible. At the same time, one of the most common plants belonging to this culture is soy: it is used both independently and as a component in the production of complex products in the dairy, meat and confectionery industries. At the same time, among other representatives of its kind, soy is the product with the highest protein content: 100 grams of this crop contains about 35 grams of this valuable substance.
In Russia, the most famous legumes are peas, beans and beans. It is customary to harvest them by drying and then use them in the preparation of soups and main courses. Also beans and beans are used for the production of canned vegetables. In addition, some types of these crops are also used as fodder plants, and in this case, not only the fruits, but also the rest of the green parts of the plants, including the stem and leaves, go to feed the livestock.
However, the variety of legumes is not limited to this list. So, in recent years, products of this group, previously poorly known on the market, for example, chickpeas, rank and lentils, began to appear in Russian stores. In addition, peanuts, which are considered to be nuts, also belong to this category.
