Legume vs Nut – How Do They Differ?

It’s not always easy to tell the difference between legume vs nut. Although both legumes and nuts include dried fruit in a pod or shell, they are different.

Edible seeds are a great source of all the nutrients you need to be healthy. They supply the majority of the protein and calories. Many edible seed plants are angiosperms, but others are also angiosperms, resulting in hybrids. Nuts, legumes, cereals, and spices are just a few examples of seeds that can be used to make food all over the world.

To learn more, keep reading this article!

What Is A Nut?

A nut is an extremely hard fruit composed of one seed. This means that nuts are the fruit of a species, but they’re technically not always edible (like coconut). They can be eaten raw or cooked and may be made into butter, oil, flour, etc.

Nuts can generally be divided into two types: dry and oily. Dry nuts have a solid fruit wall, while oily nuts have a thin fleshy fruit wall.

What Is A Legume?

Legumes are a plant family that includes trees, shrubs, and herbs that produce a variety of seeds. The amount of seeds produced by each plant species varies. For example, the pea plant produces only one flower with one petal, whereas the laburnum tree produces many little flowers on long catkins, indicating that it is a perennial.

Legumes are typically thought of as herbaceous plants with hollow stems or flattened appearances, and they are classified as such. When these plants are in bloom, they produce huge pods filled with seeds that are joined together until they are ripe, at which point they open up into two halves, each of which contains a seed.

Legume vs Nut: How Do They Differ?

Number of seeds

Normally, a nut contains only one seed, which is protected by a thick shell. Multiple seeds in a nut are extremely rare, and the seeds do not cling to the interior of the shell in any way, shape, or form. The seeds of legumes, on the other hand, are often attached to the cover’s wall, which is why they are commonly known as legume seeds.

Type of fruit

Legumes are formed from the ovary of a flower that is inferior (that is, it is placed under another organ) and are usually grouped together to form an infructescence (a cluster of flowers) (fruit-like structures with multiple fruits). The pod, like the pea, is a straightforward fruit that contains one or more seeds. Nuts do not form an infructescence and are normally seen individually within their casings, rather than in large groups.

Seed composition

Unlike nuts, which have only one cotyledon, legumes have two embryonic leaves (cotyledons) on their leaves. Legumes are frequently cited as having a high protein level, but nuts are frequently cited as having a low protein content.

Nutritional value

While nuts are low in protein, they offer significant amounts of fat, fiber, and minerals like magnesium. Legumes are extremely high in protein (they’re the second highest source worldwide) and also contain calcium, folate, vitamin K, antioxidants which help fight free radicals that damage cells.

Difficulty separating

Legumes generally unzip between the two halves when ripe, revealing multiple seeds. Nuts are much more difficult to separate since they have a thick fruit wall, which is why you’ll find them shelled or unshelled.

Pods vs shells

Legumes frequently have pods that are flat and long, while nuts are found in shells with uneven shapes. Their seed-to-shell ratios are also quite different.

Difficulty to harvest

Nuts grow on the inside of their shell, which makes them difficult to remove. This is why nuts are often sold shelled or unshelled. Legumes, however, are easily harvested since they produce pods that unzip with ease when ripe (usually split in half).

Taste

Nuts are known for being crunchy and nut-like in taste. The most common oils used to make nuts are grapeseed, macadamia, peanut, sunflower, and soybean. Legumes have a sweet yet pungent flavor that can be enjoyed even more when cooked with spices. They contain significant amounts of antioxidants which are highly beneficial for your health.

Related Article: What Does Mangosteen Taste Like?

Energy

Nuts contain far more calories than legumes, but they are considered to be less satisfying than legumes since they include fat rather than protein. Legumes are high in complex carbs, which means they deliver energy for a longer amount of time than simple carbohydrates. Legumes, which have about the same number of calories as nuts, can be a satisfying substitute for nuts.

How Do You Serve And Eat Nuts And Legumes?

Nuts are frequently roasted and used in both sweet and savory cuisines. They’re widely used as an ingredient in salads and baked products, and they can also be utilized as a meat substitute in vegan recipes.

Legumes are typically cooked in soups or stews, or they can be prepared in the same way as any other vegetable. They are also available canned if you don’t have the time to prepare them from scratch using fresh ingredients.

Nuts can be eaten raw, but the flavor is enhanced if they are roasted. They’re best enjoyed on their own, rather than as an accompaniment to other dishes such as salads or rice.

Legumes should be at the top of your list if you’re searching for a high-protein snack since they taste wonderful when seasoned with olive oil and salt and pepper, and they provide just the proper amount of crunch. They’re also a common ingredient in many vegan meals.

Related Article: How To Eat A Coconut? – Best Ways To Enjoy Coconut!

Conclusion

Nuts and legumes are two types of plant-based foods that are somewhat distinct. Their nutritional benefits are vastly different, but their differences are much more pronounced. Both of them contain vitamins and minerals that help to maintain the cells in your body healthy and functioning properly. Using the information in this article, which provides answers to frequently asked questions regarding legumes versus nuts, you will be better prepared to make appropriate food choices during snack time or while making meals at home or in restaurants.