They contain calcium, vitamin A and a group of vitamin B (thiamine – vitamin B1, riboflavin – vitamin b2, niacin – vitamin B3), as well as vitamin C, all necessary for maintaining good health and fighting diseases. Canned peas are usually ready to eat once drained and rinsed, but people can also add them to stews and soups — ideally toward the end of the cooking process, so as not to overcook them. Storage of the seeds can be problematic in Africa due to potential infestation by postharvest pests. Traditional methods of protecting stored grain include using the insecticidal properties of Neem extracts, mixing the grain with ash or sand, using vegetable oils, combining ash and oil into a soap solution or treating the cowpea pods with smoke or heat. [36] More modern methods include storage in airtight containers, using gamma irradiation, or heating or freezing the seeds. [37] Temperatures of 60°C (140°F) kill the weevil larvae, leading to a recent push to develop cheap forms of solar heating that can be used to treat stored grain. [38] One of the more recent developments is the use a cheap, reusable double-bagging system (called PICs) that asphyxiates the cowpea weevils. [39] Pests and diseases [ edit ] Larva from the Maruca vitrata, commonly called the maruca pod borer, is one of the most damaging insect pests to the cowpea plant. Cowpeas have a low glycaemic index, thus reducing sudden spikes of blood sugar levels after eating. Therefore, including them in the diet is beneficial for diabetic people. Sharma, H. C. (1998). "Bionomics, host plant resistance, and management of the legume pod borer, Maruca vitrata" (PDF). Crop Protection. 7 (5): 373–386. doi: 10.1016/s0261-2194(98)00045-3.

You'll want to use a sweet onion, flatleaf parsley, and a pungent but nutty Middle Eastern garlic likeHimalayan Red. Any home grown, ripened on the vine tomato will work well. This recipe is a fine excuse to try various types of cowpeas or any other small pulse, like tepary beans. Each of will give the salad a different appearance and taste -- all of them good. We used Garnet Rice Beans to make the salad illustrated above. Place 3 tablespoons of olive oil in a casserole and place over medium-high heat. Add onions and cook for 3-4 minutes or until translucent. Stir in tomato and pepper pastes, and add in ½ cup water. Bring to a boil, cover, and simmer for 20 minutes. Add in the rice and cooked cowpeas. Simmer, covered, for 5 minutes. Stir in chopped greens and continue cooking over medium heat until all are tender, another 10 minutes or so. Remove from heat and season with salt to taste.

Serving Suggestions

Cowpeas have a mild, nutty aroma and a rich creamy and earthy flavor. Here is how you can include cowpeas in your diet: Adam D. Steinbrenner, Maria Muñoz-Amatriaín, Antonio F. Chaparro, Jessica Montserrat Aguilar-Venegas, Sassoum Lo, Satohiro Okuda, Gaetan Glauser, Julien Dongiovanni, Da Shi, Marlo Hall, Daniel Crubaugh, Nicholas Holton, Cyril Zipfel, Ruben Abagyan, Ted C. J. Turlings, Timothy J. Close, Alisa Huffaker, and Eric A. Schmelz: A receptor-like protein mediates plant immune responses to herbivore-associated molecular patterns. In: PNAS. November 23, 2020. doi:10.1073/pnas.2018415117. See also: Iseki, Kohtaro; Takahashi, Yu; Muto, Chiaki; Naito, Ken; Tomooka, Norihiko (2018-06-15). "Diversity of Drought Tolerance in the Genus Vigna". Frontiers in Plant Science. 9: 729. doi: 10.3389/fpls.2018.00729. ISSN 1664-462X. PMC 6014140. PMID 29963062.

Cowpeas are beans of different colours with a great nutty flavour. Colours could be marbled, green, red, brown or white. The red and brown varieties are more common. They are legumes and very rich in protein and other nutrients. Botanically referred to as Vigna unguiculata . Peas are a good source of protein, making them an ideal alternative to animal protein in a plant-based diet or an alternative to soybean protein. Provides a good iron alternativeEnsminger, Marion Eugene; Ensminger, Audrey H. (1993). Foods & Nutrition Encyclopedia, Two Volume Set. CRC Press. ISBN 978-0-8493-8980-1. a b c Small, Ernest (2009). Top 100 Food Plants. NRC Research Press. p.104. ISBN 978-0-660-19858-3.

a b c Perrino, P.; Laghetti, G.; Spagnoletti Zeuli, P. L.; Monti, L. M. (1993). "Diversification of cowpea in the Mediterranean and other centres of cultivation". Genetic Resources and Crop Evolution. 40 (3): 121–132. doi: 10.1007/bf00051116. S2CID 41138930. You can use freshly grated, crushed or minced garlic for this recipe or you can also use dry garlic flakesor use garlic powderwhich is an easy option.

Method

According to United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) data, 1 cup (160 grams) of cooked green peas contains: Chivenge, Pauline; Mabhaudhi, Tafadzwanashe; Modi, Albert T.; Mafongoya, Paramu (2017). "The Potential Role of Neglected and Underutilised Crop Species as Future Crops under Water Scarce Conditions in Sub-Saharan Africa". International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 12 (6): 5685–5711. doi: 10.3390/ijerph120605685. ISSN 1661-7827. PMC 4483666. PMID 26016431. In fact, studies show that increasing your intake of soluble fiber can help promote regularity and increase stool frequency in those with constipation ( 8). Add 1 teaspoon of ground paprika or cumin for flavor. A bit of lemon juice is also a great way to enhance the taste. Serve with raw sugar snap peas as crudités. It was not the only nutritional mistake made by Mr. Washington either. He was convinced that the tomato was poisonous and unfit for humans. But this did not stop his slaves or his poorer, but healthier neighbors from adding both crops to theirdiets.