WHAT THE HECK ARE LUPIN BEANS

July 10, 2022

Lupin (or lupini) lupini beans are a type of legume that come from the seeds of the lupinus genus of the popular flowering plants. Lupin beans are closely related to peas, chickpeas, soybeans, lentils and peanuts. (That’s right, despite the name peanuts aren’t nuts but legumes. Wild, right?). Lupin beans might be a quite new acquaintance for many of us but they’ve been a common snack in the Mediterranean region and in Latin America for a long time. It’s about time we embrace this nutritional powerhouse, too!

LUPINI BEANS ARE GREAT FOR YA! (UNLESS YOU HAVE A PEANUT ALLERGY)

‍Lupini beans contain almost double the amount of protein as chickpeas, and more fibre than the integral hummus ingredient. (Side note: We also love chickpeas, who doesn’t?) What’s more, lupin beans contain prebiotic fibres that can promote the growth of friendly probiotic bacteria in our guts. As if that wasn’t plenty already, lupin beans also provide us with a good dose of minerals such as magnesium and potassium. Lupin beans are awesome but, unfortunately, lupin may cause similar allergic reactions for those who have a peanut allergy. So, if you can’t eat peanuts, we recommend you steer clear of lupin beans, too. We’re so sorry to be the bearer of bad news!

LUPIN BEANS – GOOD FOR US, GOOD FOR THE PLANET

‍Oh lupin, we do love you! A bit confused about legumes and pulses? We don’t blame you. Pulses are part of the legume family but the term “pulse” refers only to the dry edible seed within the pod. For instance, a pea pod is called a legume but the pea inside the pod is called pulse. Peanuts, soybeans, fresh beans and fresh peas are all legumes but they are not pulses (the seeds are not dry). Dry beans, dry peas, lentils and chickpeas, in turn, are all pulses that are part of the legume family.