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Plant-BasedLegumes & Pulses
🟢Safe

Moth Bean

Vigna aconitifolia

Moth Bean is a lentils leguminous food, known for its lentils and savory flavor profile, and rich in essential nutrients like Folate, Thiamin, Vitamin B6.

Regional names

Moth Bean

Origin

Moth Bean is cataloged inside the lentils lane of legumes & pulses.

Native region

Global pulse-growing regions with strong dryland farming tradition

Season

Available year-round depending on form, preservation, or sourcing

Food Combinations & Timing

✅

Safe Combination Profile

It is safe to eat this food item with other food items.

Nutritional profile

Calories

110 kcal / 100 g

Protein

8.5 g

Carbs

19.0 g

Fat

0.4 g

Fiber

7.5 g

Water content

Moderate when cooked (60% to 70%)

Glycemic index

Low to moderate

Vitamins

  • Folate
  • Thiamin
  • Vitamin B6

Minerals

  • Iron
  • Magnesium
  • Potassium
  • Zinc

Health benefits

Evidence-aligned highlights

  • Moth Bean is grouped with lentils ingredients that commonly contribute flavor, cooking flexibility, and category-specific nutrient value.
  • Moth Bean can be compared against other legumes & pulses items using the same EatPedia detail layout.
  • Moth Bean is ready for future USDA and editorial enrichment while already carrying a structured safety and preparation profile.

Flavor notes

Lentils, Savory, Balanced

Texture

Texture varies across lentils items and how they are prepared.

Aroma

Lentils aroma varies by variety, freshness, and preparation.

Pairings

Lemon, Tahini, Cumin, Herbs, Rice

Safety & toxicity

Edible parts

Standard edible culinary portions of moth bean

Toxic or risky parts

Discard damaged, spoiled, or non-food-grade forms of moth bean

Raw vs cooked

Use lentils items according to the ingredient's normal culinary form, whether raw, cooked, dried, soaked, or preserved.

Allergies & intolerances

People with known sensitivities to legumes & pulses items should confirm tolerance before larger servings.

Drug interactions

Normal culinary servings of legumes & pulses items usually fit routine diets, but concentrated use can change tolerance or medication timing.

Safe daily limit

Typical meal-sized servings of legumes & pulses items are appropriate for most adults when tolerated.

⚠️ Notice: This safety profile is a general guideline. Dietary tolerances differ; consult a healthcare professional for allergies or drug interactions. See our full disclaimer.

Who should avoid & how to handle it

Who should avoid or moderate

  • People with allergies, sensitivities, or medically restricted diets related to lentils items should review tolerance carefully.

Preparation & storage

  • Clean: Wash, sort, or inspect moth bean according to its usual market form before use.
  • Cut: Cut, peel, grind, or portion moth bean according to the intended recipe and texture target.
  • Cook: Prepare lentils items using the method that best suits their usual culinary form and texture.
  • Store: Store in the usual food-safe way for the product form you buy: fresh, dried, fermented, or shelf-stable.
  • Preserve: Freeze, dry, ferment, or pantry-store moth bean according to the form you buy and how quickly you plan to use it.

Cuisine & cultural use

Common cuisines

  • Middle Eastern
  • Indian
  • Mediterranean
  • Weeknight meal prep

Moth Bean appears in Middle Eastern, Indian, Mediterranean, Weeknight meal prep, often because its flavor structure and prep speed fit both everyday cooking and ceremonial dishes.

Dynamic Substitutions

No alternatives recorded for this specific item. It is chemically or botanically unique in the database.

🌱 Cultivation & Production

Moth Bean Home Growing Guide

Learn how to grow and cultivate moth bean at home, whether you live in an urban apartment or have access to outdoor garden land.

Apartment Friendly

✗ Not Ideal for Apartments

No

Urban Space Advice

Not recommended for apartments unless using specialized dwarf varieties in large, heavy pots.

Difficulty

Hard

Propagation

Grafting (commercial propagation) or seeds (slower growth).

Soil Type

Deep, well-draining garden soil

Watering

Deep watering once a week

Sunlight

Full sun (8+ hours daily)

Best Season

Spring planting; fruits in Summer/Autumn

Step-by-Step Growing Guide

  1. 1

    For garden planting: Choose a sunny spot with deep, fertile, well-draining soil.

  2. 2

    Dig a hole twice as wide as the root ball and plant at the same depth as the container.

  3. 3

    Water deeply once a week, especially during the first two years and during fruiting.

  4. 4

    Prune annually in late winter to remove dead wood and shape the tree for sun exposure.

Quick recipes

Fast recipes using Moth Bean

Dinner

Maharashtrian Matki Usal Sprout Curry

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Earthy sprouted moth beans simmered in a fragrant coconut and curry leaf gravy.

Ingredients

Servings:2
  • 1 1/2 cups sprouted moth beans (matki)
  • 1 medium onion, finely chopped
  • 1 tsp ginger-garlic paste
  • 1/2 tsp ground turmeric and 1 tsp red chili powder
  • 1 tbsp cooking oil
  • 1/2 tsp mustard seeds
  • 1 cup water

Nutrition

  • 140 kcal
  • 8 g protein
  • 22 g carbs
  • 3.5 g fat

Preparation Steps

  1. 1Heat cooking oil in a pan; crackle mustard seeds, then add chopped onion and sauté until golden.
  2. 2Add ginger-garlic paste, turmeric, and red chili powder, stirring for 1 minute.
  3. 3Add the sprouted moth beans and toss well with the aromatic masala base.
  4. 4Add water, cover with a lid, and simmer on medium-low heat for 20 minutes until beans are tender yet intact.
  5. 5Serve warm with whole-grain flatbreads or brown rice.