The Bambara Groundnut (Vigna subterranea), or ‘nzama’ in Chichewa, is native to West Africa but has spread throughout Sub-Saharan Africa. It grows underground, like a peanut, but can be cooked like a bean. They are nutrient-dense, making them one of the more valuable legumes for nutrition. Bambara groundnuts contain around 64% carbohydrate, 24% protein, 6.5% fat, and 5.5% fiber and is rich in minerals. The seeds may be roasted, boiled, or ground into a flour.
Due to the fact that Bambara Groundnuts are leguminous, it also means that they help to restore nitrogen to the soil where they are grown. This makes them an ideal plant for intercropping and crop rotation systems. The leaves are also rich in phosphorous and often used as a feed for animals.
