Pigeon Pea

The pigeon pea is a legume shrub. They produce edible, small, round seeds. Prior to maturing, the seeds are a fresh green color, which are known as fresh pigeon peas or green peas, then change color as they mature, turning to a dark brown color.

Pigeon peas have been cultivated for many years, with their origins likely starting out in South Asia or Africa. The peas have been cultivated in various parts of Africa and India, and over the years they have since stretched out to other regions of the world, such as Europe and Latin America.  

Benefits of Legumes

Legumes in general are considered very nutritious. Legumes contain various health benefits that make these peas great to incorporate into one’s diet. Pigeon pea is one of many healthy legumes. Pigeon peas are considered a valued nutritional legume and staple food in various countries. It is considered a vital food source that is an ideal legume for a plant-based diet or vegetarians.  

Availability & Purchase

Pigeon pea seeds can often be purchased online. A variety of pigeon pea is the dwarf pigeon pea tree. Dwarf pigeon pea plants can often be found and purchased online through many online garden shops.
Fresh pigeon peas are likely to be found at farmers markets, then supermarkets. Frozen pigeon peas are often available and can be purchased at most supermarkets in the states. Pigeon peas can also be purchased canned or dried. Popular brands of canned and dried pigeon peas include Goya pigeon peas. The Goya brand is popular among the Latino community and is known for good quality products.

Food & Drinks

Pigeon peas are edible legumes. These peas can be consumed in different ways: fresh, dried, or cooked. The fresh pigeon peas can be added to salads or enjoyed as a light snack. In addition, the peas can be added to soups and stews. Prior to cooking pigeon peas, it is ideal to soak the dried pigeon peas overnight, like many other beans. This helps the beans to become tender, and it also helps to cook the peas faster. They can be cooked in various ways. They can be fried, sauteed, or steamed. 

Recipes Ideas

• Pigeon pea salad
• Vegetarian rice and pigeon peas
• Stewed pigeon peas and squash

Pigeon peas have a variety of different names depending on the region of the world, partly due to the fact that pigeon peas are crops grown and used in certain parts of the world, therefore making the legume part of the country’s culture and language. Pigeon peas are a legume crop that is used in various cuisines from across the world. These legumes are commonly used in many parts of the world, including Africa, Asia, the Caribbean, and Latin America.

Africa

Pigeon peas are a popular and common staple food throughout many parts of the African continent. Pigeon peas can be referred to as congo peas in Africa; it is a drought-tolerant crop that is resistant to African climates and is durable to no rainwater for long periods of time compared to other legumes. Pigeon peas are commonly consumed in the Eastern region of Africa and areas of South Africa. This includes Kenya and South Africa. In Africa, pigeon peas are cooked in stews, soups, and rice. 

Recipe Ideas

• Bharazi (East Africa; pigeon peas in coconut cream)
• Githeri (corn & legumes)

Asia

Asia is another common region of the world for pigeon peas. Southeast Asia is a popular region in the world where pigeon peas are grown and consumed. It is a staple throughout many parts of Asia. India is known as the topmost producer of pigeon peas worldwide. It is a major food item used for dal or sambhar. It is also prepared in various curry Indian dishes and a great side for rice and roti dishes. Pigeon peas make great legumes for various Indian vegetarian dishes. Myanmar is another popular country for pigeon peas. Much of the pigeon pea production is produced in Myanmar. It is a big part of the country’s agriculture, and many tasty dishes can be found there.

Recipe Ideas

• Kadyos, Baboy, and Langka (a Filipino stew composed of pigeon peas and jackfruit)
• Totha (Indian Pigeon Pea Bean Curry)
• Turi dana ni amti (Indian pigeon pea sour curry)

Caribbean

Pigeon peas, also known as gungo peas in Jamaica, are a popular legume in many parts of the Caribbean. One of the main reasons for the legume’s popularity is the climate. The Caribbean climate is ideal for pigeon peas, making it fairly simple to grow in this part of the world. As of today, it is a staple legume and ingredient used in various dishes throughout various islands.

Recipe Ideas

• Caribbean pigeon pea stew
• Jamaican pigeon peas and rice
• Bahamian-style peas and rice

Latin America

In Latin America, pigeon peas are known as gandules. It is considered a major food staple for many Latin communities and has adapted into Latin cuisine. These peas are popular in Central America and are consumed with a variety of dishes. Throughout Latin America, the pigeon peas are commonly served with rice. These peas are especially popular throughout the island of Puerto Rico. The arroz con gandules, which is rice with pigeon peas, is a popular and national dish of Puerto Rico.

Recipe Ideas

• Arroz con gandules (Puerto Rico & Latin America; rice and pigeon peas)
• Moro de guandules (Dominican Republic rice and pigeon peas)
• Gandules Guisados (stewed pigeon peas)

Summary

Pigeon pea is a vital legume in various parts of the world. It is a versatile ingredient that is prepared and served differently depending on the country. In addition, it is a healthy legume that has many nutritional health benefits, making it an excellent addition to one’s diet and making a healthy meal choice.

Pigeon peas are one of my favorite legumes. They are tasty and pair wonderfully with rice. This includes rice and pigeon peas, one of my favorite Puerto Rican dishes. There are many pigeon pea dishes from around the world worth trying for their blend of delicious and tasty flavors.