Can i eat mesquite beans

The pods of all 3 common species of mesquite -- Honey Mesquite Prosopis glandulosa , Screwbean Mesquite Prosopis glandulosa and Velvet Mesquite Prosopis velutina -- are edible, although the Screwbean is less flavorful than the more widespread Honey Mesquite. Add the authentic Southwest taste of mesquite to your meals by trying the following recipes, or simply sprinkle mesquite meal on meats and vegetables before grilling.

Collect mesquite pods in September and October, discard the light or hollow ones and retain the full or heavier ones. Dry in the sun, or in the oven on low heat, until pods are crumbly, then grind in blender or food processor. This can be difficult because the seeds are much harder than the pods.

While it easier to grind the pods alone, nutritional value is lost and the flavor is somewhat different. Native Americans used a metate, a flat stone with a concave surface on which nuts, grains or other food items can be ground using another stone. If you cannot, or do not want to dry and process mesquite meal yourself, commercial products like as those sold at the DesertUSA Store , are also available. The huisache has thorns and the goldenball lead tree does not.

Prosopis glandulosa Honey mesquite is also blooming now but its flowers are a paler shade of yellow and have a different shape. Do cows eat mesquite beans? Across the western half of the state, mesquite beans most likely are a big part of the answer, according to a pair of Texas AgriLife Extension Service experts at Fort Stockton.

Carpenter said problems can arise when cattle eat mesquite beans for more than 60 percent of their diet continuously for two months or more.

How often should you water a mesquite tree? Drip System Irrigation You also need to lengthen the watering time by two hours per 2 feet of growth. You should water your mesquite once a week during the hot months of May through September, and twice a month the rest of the year. Do mesquite trees cause allergies? The plants produce considerable airborne pollen.

Mesquite allergies cause conjunctivitis, asthma, but also nasal inflammation rhinitis , asthma, nasal congestion, sneezing, scratchy throat, and even contact dermatitis.

What does mesquite flour taste like? While mesquite is familiar as an ingredient for savory marinades and smoky barbecue seasonings, mesquite flour has a sweet, nutty flavor often likened to brown sugar , and is a gluten-free, low-glycemic alternative to conventional flours.

How do you get rid of mesquite trees? If the trees are large and numerous, aerial spraying is probably the best place to start. Our Texas native honey mesquite Prosopis glandulosa is arguably the best-tasting of the bunch.

Living up to its common name, it is pleasantly sweet, offering hints of caramel, molasses, cinnamon, citrus and reportedly even conjuring up flavors that remind some of chocolate and coffee. The flavors can vary from tree to tree, so take a nibble before you begin to harvest. Like American diet staples wheat and corn, mesquite does have one easily avoidable contaminant.

By harvesting pods off the tree and never off the ground and by only harvesting during periods of dry weather, you can enjoy a safe and healthy meal. Harvesting: Only harvest ripe pods that are beige or have started fading from green to beige on the tree. I have found the pods mottled with pink or purple seem to be the most flavorful.

Taste for yourself. If you sample ripe pods from one tree that are bitter, move on to another tree. Flavors can vary quite a bit from tree to tree. Important: Do not harvest pods that have fallen on ground. Drying the beans: Place the beans evenly on a baking pan with a cooling rack and set in the sun to dry days.

You can also use a food dehydrator or vented oven set on the lowest setting until the beans are dry. And in Arizona, the website claims, mesquite pods are the least appetizing thing around. While taking in the stark beauty of the Arizona desert, you might notice some of the vegetation appears to have 8in-long, chartreuse-colored spiders crawling out of its branches.

Not only are these lil' wormy monsters harmless legumes, they're actually edible. And, more importantly, they especially the honey-mesquite variety taste like organic Skittles.