legumes

A legume in botanical writing is a plant in the family Fabaceae (or Leguminosae), or a fruit of these specific plants. A 'legume' fruit is a simple dry fruit that develops from a simple carpel and usually dehisces (opens along a seam) on two sides. A common name for this type of fruit is a pod, although "pod" is also applied to a few other fruit types, such as vanilla. Well-known legumes include alfalfa, clover, peas, beans, lentils, lupins, mesquite, carob, soy, and peanuts.

Legumes contain relatively low quantities of the essential amino acid methionine. That is why some vegetarian cultures - in order to get a balanced diet, and almost in an involuntary manner - combine their diet of legumes with grains. Grains, on the other hand, contain relatively low quantities of the essential amino acid lysine, which legumes contain. Thus a combination of legumes with grains forms a well-balanced diet for vegetarians. Common examples of such combinations are dal with rice by Indians, and beans with corn tortillas, tofu with rice, and peanut butter with wheat bread (as sandwiches) in several other cultures, including Americans.

Source: Wikipedia