No, peanuts are not vegetables in the culinary sense, but botanically, they are legumes, a type of vegetable. This often causes confusion.
The Botanical Truth: Peanuts are Legumes
While we commonly refer to peanuts as nuts, their classification is different. Botanically, peanuts ( Arachis hypogaea) are legumes. Legumes are plants that produce seeds in pods; peanuts uniquely develop their pods underground. Harvard Health and Wikipedia confirm this botanical classification.
Culinary Classification: Peanuts as Nuts
In the culinary world, peanuts are grouped with nuts due to their similar nutritional profile, texture, and use in recipes. Their high fat and protein content, along with their role in dishes like stir-fries (Last Ingredient), soups (Fresh Levant Bistro), and sauces (The Kitchn), lead to their practical classification as nuts in cooking. Food52 highlights this culinary perspective.
Understanding the Difference
The discrepancy stems from different classification systems:
- Botanical Classification: Focuses on the plant's biological structure and family.
- Culinary Classification: Focuses on how the food is used and its characteristics in recipes.
Therefore, peanuts are simultaneously a legume (botanically a type of vegetable) and a nut (culinarily).
