Botanically speaking, peanuts belong to the legume family. Nevertheless, they have many properties that are similar to those of hazelnuts, walnuts or cashews.
Why aren't peanuts real nuts?
Peanuts are not botanically nuts, but belong to the legume family. Nevertheless, their properties are similar to hazelnuts, walnuts and cashews.
The peanut grows underground
The peanut is the seed of the peanut plant from which new plants can be grown.
Peanuts ripen in a shell similar to the pod of a legume. The pods are formed underground by the plant. This gave the fruit the name “peanut”.
Unlike other legumes, the peanut pod is very hard and does not come off on its own.
Peanuts can be eaten raw and cooked
Beans, chickpeas and other legumes contain the toxin phasin, which is neutralized by heating.
Peanuts do not contain phasin, so the fruits can also be eaten uncooked.
However, the high histamine content can trigger a peanut allergy.
Tips & Tricks
Peanuts are one of the most important staple foods in South America. They contain a lot of fat and protein. They also cover the need for many vitamins and magnesium.
