Wild cowpea (zombi pea)

Vigna vexillata

root · legume

Elongated, protein-rich tubers, raw or cooked, in Ethiopia, India and New Guinea; the seeds are cooked like beans.

Origin

Tropical Africa, Asia and Oceania

Where to find it

In savannas, grasslands and fallow land.

Season (United States)

all year round

Preparation

The tubers are peeled and eaten raw or cooked for about twenty minutes; the seeds are soaked overnight before cooking.

Molecules

In small amounts, not counted Insoluble fibers · Protein

Did you know?

It is one of the few beans eaten mainly for its root.