Popular bean varieties of Northeast that are both tasty and healthy

Feb20,2024

Beans, laden with soluble fibers, proteins, and various minerals, serve as a nutritious food source. Their dried variant is commonly processed into lentils or dal, while the fresh and tender pods are preferred for cooking as vegetables.

Credit: Google

Bean varieties

Yardlong beans, renowned for their edible pods, are a popular ingredient in various Indian dishes. Often stir-fried with potatoes and spices, these beans form a staple part of many meals. 

Credit: Google

Yardlong beans

Broad beans, known for their crisp texture, are a popular choice among food enthusiasts. These round, green beans, often enjoyed both dried and fresh, are rich in dietary fibers. 

Credit: Google

Broad or Fava beans

Moth beans, known for their yellow-brown pods, can encapsulate up to 4-9 seeds. These pods, characterized by an elongated shape, house seeds that exude a nutty flavor. 

Credit: Google

Moth beans

The cluster bean, known for its slightly earthy taste, is grounded to produce a flour called guar gum. This flour is extensively used as a thickening agent in the preparation of ice creams, sauces, and various other Indian dishes.

Credit: Google

Cluster beans

The Bambara, also known as lobia beans, resemble chickpeas with their round shape and nutty flavour. They have an earthy undertone and can be consumed fresh. 

Credit: Google

Bambara beans

The renowned Indian fritter, 'moong bhajiya', made from mung beans, is often a favourite. This oval bean is enjoyed in two forms, with skin, known as 'hare chilke moong daal', and without skin, termed 'peeli moong daal'.

Credit: Google

Mung Beans

Runner beans, known for their starchy and nutty flavors, complement stir-fry dishes and rice meals. These beans are harvested when their pods reach a tender state, typically around 5-6 inches in length.

Credit: Google

Runner beans

The beans are popular as a dry pulse in Indian households and are mostly boiled and relished with rice.

Credit: Google

Rice beans

Roasted seeds of a certain plant are gaining attention for their potential use as a substitute for coffee. Notably, these seeds have been extensively employed in Ayurvedic treatments for a range of health conditions.

Credit: Google

Velvet beans