Leguminous plants occupy a very important place in cooking and in the human diet, because they contain a lot of useful substances. They also have specific taste qualities, which ensures their worldwide popularity.
In most highly developed countries, legumes are used in combination with corn products to provide a wholesome and balanced diet. These crops are also very rich in vitamins, especially soybeans, which have recently become a widespread product due to the fact that they taste like meat.
How to use beans in cooking
One of the most used legumes is lentils. It is often added to soups, vegetable and meat casseroles, etc. In India, farmers grow more than 50 species of this plant on their plantations. In this country, a kind of porridge called dal is prepared from it. This dish is usually eaten with vegetables and boiled rice.
Another widespread legume is peas. Southwest Asia is considered to be his homeland. This crop contains a lot of protein and vitamins A and C. The most consumed and grown species of this plant is the seed pea. It is much softer and sweeter than the field, so many of its varieties can be eaten raw without pretreatment. Other types are usually canned or frozen to provide a year's supply of this product.
Beans. This legume is grown in all climatic zones of the planet. It is one of the main food crops around the world. However, there are some varieties that are grown specifically for animal feed.
The most useful variety is lima beans. It is fortified with protein, vitamin B, and calcium and magnesium. In Russia and in other countries of the USSR, fire beans, belonging to vigorous plants, became the most widespread. Its seeds are covered with red and black dots and can be eaten raw or processed.
Eating peanuts
Despite their name and purpose, peanuts also belong to the class of legumes. South America is considered its homeland, where climatic conditions allow growing this plant all year round. Peanuts are quite often used in the production of confectionery, as well as candy and chocolate.
Also, this peanut is often a raw material in the industry in the production of decorative cosmetics, paints, plastics, etc.
