Desert ironwood

Olneya tesota

legume

Roasted seeds tasting of peanut, or sprouted, among the Seri and Tohono O'odham.

Origin

Sonoran Desert

Where to find it

It lines the arroyos in Arizona and Sonora; the Seri carve its wood into figurines sold to travelers.

Season (United States)

May to July

Preparation

The seeds are dry-roasted, stirring, for a few minutes until golden; to sprout them, they are first soaked overnight.

Molecules

ProteinIn small amounts, not counted GOS (galacto-oligosaccharides) · Folates (B9) · Insoluble fibers

Did you know?

Its wood is so dense it sinks in water.