Beans, Peas, Lentils & More: The Legume Family

Legumes is a general term used to describe the seeds of plants from the legume family, which includes beans, peas, lentils, and peanuts.

The common denominator in this family of plants is that they produce a pod with seeds inside (legume literally means the seeds of the plants). And not all legumes are veggies (looking at you beans).

Legumes includes beans, peas, lentils, edamame, alfalfa, clover, lupins, mesquite, carob, peanuts, and tamarind.

kidney beans, pinto beans, black beans, lima beans, black-eyed peas, garbanzo beans (chickpeas), split peas, soybeans, edamame, alfalfa, clover, beans, peas, lupins, mesquite, carob, soybeans, peanuts, and tamarind.
Let’s chat all things peas – there’s more than 1,000 varieties existence today!

3 of the most common are: English peas, snow peas and snap peas. Love seeing these beauties appear at the farmers market, signifying the darkest days of winter are behind us and spring has arrived!

The main difference between the 3 most common peas are their level of sweetness and if the pod is edible. (all can be served cooked or raw).

English Peas (also called garden peas or sweet peas) are the kind you most see in a conventional grocery (and common peas that are sold canned and frozen). The pods are not edible, and the peas are sweet.

Snow Peas (also called as Chinese pea pods) are mildly flavored and have flat edible pods (though tough “strings” along the edges are usually removed before eating).

Sugar snap peas are a cross between the snow pea and the garden. Peas are sweet and pod are edible (though tough “strings” along the edges are usually removed before eating but strangles varieties are now available too).

These 3 types peas can easily be interchanged in the recipe on this blog.

Whicheva variety of fresh peas or beans ya have, shelling them is a labor of love but oh so worth it!

Season: Peak season is spring though some variety of legumes are available year round as are dried legumes.
Prep: raw, boiled, steamed.