Monday, August 11, 2008

Black-eyed Bean (Cowpea) Salad


Cowpea contains about 25% protein, making it extremely valuable where many people cannot afford protein foods such as meat and fish

Ingredients:
  • 1 cup boiled black-eyed beans
  • ½ cup cucumber cut into small cubes
  • ½ cup carrot cut into small cubes
  • ½ cup onion cut into small cubes
  • 2 small finely chopped green chillies
  • ½ cup finely chopped green coriander
  • 2 tbsp lemon juice
  • Salt to taste
  • ½ tsp black pepper powder
  • 1 tsp chaat masala

Method:
  • Mix all the ingredients in a bowl.
  • Keep in the refrigerator for at least two hrs.
  • Serve it as a evening snack or salad with meal.

Do You Know?
The protein in cowpea seed is rich in the amino acids, lysine and tryptophan, compared to cereal grains; however, it is deficient in methionine and cystine when compared to animal proteins. Therefore, cowpea seed is valued as a nutritional supplement to cereals and an extender of animal proteins.

Cowpea can be used at all stages of growth as a vegetable crop. The tender green leaves are an important food source in Africa and are prepared as a pot herb, like spinach. Immature snapped pods are used in the same way as snapbeans, often being mixed with other foods. Green cowpea seeds are boiled as a fresh vegetable, or may be canned or frozen. Dry mature seeds are also suitable for boiling and canning.

Cowpea contains about 25% protein, making it extremely valuable where many people cannot afford protein foods such as meat and fish.

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