Are black eyed peas a vegetable or bean?

Answer

You are both right! Black eyed peas are a legume (a mature bean). As a legume, black eyed peas are a vegetable and also a bean for protein. Black eyed peas contain specific nutrients such as zinc, iron and amino acids typically found in the protein food group. They also contain nutrients found in the vegetable food group; fiber, folate, and potassium. Often, legumes are classified by what type of diet an individual consumes. For people who eat a lot of meat, they are usually considered a vegetable source. In vegetarian diets, legumes count towards servings of protein. Regardless of dietary preferences, or where they are located in the store, black eyed peas are an excellent source of nutrition and should be included as part of a healthy diet. Try our recipe for Collards & Black Eyed Peas Casserole.