Have you heard of bambara nuts before? This leguminous plant is commonly found in West Africa. This plant has a wide range of nutritional importance and it is also a cultural staple in countries like Nigeria, Ghana, and Mali. People have different names for these nuts like earth pea, ground-bean, and Jugo bean. In this article we’re going to learn about the botanical background, cultivation and importance, culinary use and nutritional value of bambara nuts.
Botanical Background
Bambara nuts’ origin can be traced back to the Bamana people in Mali, which were also named after them. The Bambara nuts have a botanical name known as Vigna subterranea, which belongs to the Fabaceae family. The long stem of this plant is spread out along the ground. Its leaves are made up of three smaller leaflets.
One thing about this plant is that its pods grow underneath the ground, which is similar to peanuts. This feature plays an important role in the proper growth of this plant by keeping them moist during dry seasons. While Bambara nuts are predominantly cultivated in sub-Saharan Africa, it are also grown in Southeast Asia.
Importance of Bambara Nuts
- This plant is resilient to drought which makes it a reliable source of food during the dry season.
- It is a low maintenance plant, perfect for subsistence farmers.
- Bambara nuts enrich the soil through nitrogen fixation which fertilizes the soil and prepares it for the next crop to be planted.
- It is rich in protein, carbohydrates, and other nutrients such as iron, calcium, and magnesium.
- It also provides a source of income for farmers.
What Are The Culinary Uses For Bambara Nuts?
Firstly, Bambara nuts can be eaten freshly, boiled or even ground into flour. In Nigeria, bambara nuts are used to make different foods particular to the Igbo tribe. For example, this but is used to make a popular Igbo staple food, Okpa.
Okpa is made from bambara nut flour, palm oil, salt, pepper (any kind of pepper), and hot water. Bambara nuts are also used in making groundnut soup which enhances the nutty flavor of the meal.
Bottom Line
Bambara nuts are leguminous plants that hail from Africa. It has a long stem that spreads out along the ground, with its leaves made up of three smaller leaflets. One thing about this plant is that its pods grow underneath the ground, which is similar to peanuts.
This plant has a wide range of nutritional and cultural importance. In Nigeria, bambara nuts are used to make different foods particular to the Igbo tribe. For example, this but is used to make a popular Igbo staple food, Okpa. Bambara nuts are also used in making groundnut soup which enhances the nutty flavour of the meal.
