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Moth beans, also known as dew beans or mat grams, are popular in Asian cuisine and can be grown in warm, arid areas. They have a nutty flavor and can be used in curries, salads, and soups. They are also a good addition to a vegetarian diet. To grow them, prepare a patch of soil in a warm, dry area and provide runners to encourage growth off the ground.
Moth beans are the seeds of the Vigna aconitifolia plant. They are grown in arid parts of Asia, where they are extremely popular in dishes such as curries, and are also sometimes used in Western cooking, especially as a side dish. Many South Asian markets stock moth beans, typically in dried form, and if you live in USDA zones 9-11, you can try growing moth beans at home.
By the way, despite the spelling, it’s pronounced “ditch beans,” not “moth beans.” Moth beans are also known as dew beans, papillons, muths, mot beans, mat beans, Turkish grams, and mat grams. ‘Moth’ is believed to come from a Hindi word, ‘mat’, and these beans are incredibly popular in Indian cooking, suggesting that the origin of the Hindi word may be true.
Moth beans can be found in cultivation throughout Southeast Asia and the Middle East. They are also sometimes grown in the Mediterranean, in places like Italy. The hardy creeping plant favors arid conditions and neutral to acidic soils. The plant produces bright yellow flowers that develop into elongated seedpods, which will eventually produce small seeds about the size of a grain of rice. These seeds can be dried and cooked or saved for planting next year.
Depending on the climate, some moths establish themselves as perennials and will return year after year. In other cases, the plant dies out as the dry season approaches, with most gardeners simply letting the pods dry on the vine and then threshing them afterward. The plants are also used as a source of fodder for domesticated animals such as goats and cows.
Moth beans have a rich, nutty flavor that can complement an assortment of dishes. The young pods are often eaten whole as a vegetable, and can also be spiced in chutneys and used in pickled foods. If allowed to dry, the beans are cooked and then used in curries, salads and other dishes. They are reasonably nutritious, making them a good addition to the vegetarian diet, and many people enjoy the delicacy of moth beans in foods such as risottos, couscous and soups.
If you want to grow moth beans, start by preparing a patch of soil in a warm, dry part of the garden. You may want to amend the soil with sand to promote good drainage and avoid using excessive mulch, which retains water. You can start seedlings indoors or plant the beans outdoors in the early spring; keep them lightly watered until they sprout and become established, then allow the soil to dry out between waterings. Provide runners to encourage the plant to grow off the ground, reducing the risk of mold, mildew and rot.
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