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.