Legume vs. Vegetable: What's the Difference?
Edited by Huma Saeed || By Sawaira Riaz || Updated on October 7, 2023
A legume is a plant or its seed from the Fabaceae family, while a vegetable is an edible plant or part of a plant used in cooking.
Key Differences
Legumes and vegetables, while both being plant-based food sources, differ significantly in their botanical definitions and nutritional profiles. A legume specifically refers to plants or their seeds from the Fabaceae family. This category includes beans, lentils, and peas. They are known for their ability to fix nitrogen from the atmosphere, benefiting the soil in which they grow.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 07, 2023
On the other hand, the term vegetable is broader and denotes any edible plant or part of a plant used in cooking. This encompasses a wide range of items, from roots like carrots and tubers like potatoes to leaves such as spinach. Vegetables are a vital component of our diets, supplying essential vitamins, minerals, and fiber.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 07, 2023
From a nutritional standpoint, legumes stand out for their protein content. They are a primary protein source for many who follow vegetarian or vegan diets. Rich in complex carbohydrates and fiber, they also contribute to sustained energy and digestive health.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 07, 2023
Vegetables, with their diverse range, offer an array of nutrients. Dark leafy greens are rich in iron and calcium, while cruciferous vegetables like broccoli offer compounds beneficial for detoxification. Regardless of their differences, both legumes and vegetables play an integral role in a balanced diet, promoting overall health.
Harlon Moss
Oct 07, 2023
Comparison Chart
Definition
Plants/seeds from the Fabaceae family
Edible plant or part of a plant used in cooking
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 07, 2023
ADVERTISEMENT
Legume and Vegetable Definitions
Legume
Plants from the Fabaceae family.
Chickpeas, a type of legume, are rich in protein.
Aimie Carlson
Oct 07, 2023
ADVERTISEMENT
Legume
Seeds that fix nitrogen in soil.
Farmers often plant legumes to improve soil health.
Janet White
Oct 07, 2023
Vegetable
Plants cultivated for culinary use.
The garden produced an abundance of fresh vegetables.
Janet White
Oct 07, 2023
Legume
Edible seeds like beans and lentils.
I added black beans, a legume, to my salad.
Aimie Carlson
Oct 07, 2023
Vegetable
Edible parts of plants used in cooking.
Broccoli is my favorite vegetable.
Harlon Moss
Oct 07, 2023
ADVERTISEMENT
Legume
Plants with pod-bearing seeds.
Peas, a common legume, grow in green pods.
Aimie Carlson
Oct 07, 2023
Vegetable
Source of various vitamins and minerals.
Eating a variety of vegetables ensures nutritional balance.
Aimie Carlson
Oct 07, 2023
Vegetable
A plant cultivated for its edible parts, such as the roots of the beet, the leaves of spinach, the flower buds of broccoli, or the fruit or seeds of certain species, as beans, corn, and squash.
Sawaira Riaz
Jan 08, 2023
Legume
A pod of such a plant, which splits into two valves with the seeds attached to one edge of the valves.
Sawaira Riaz
Jan 08, 2023
Legume
Such a pod or seed used as food. Peas, beans, and lentils are legumes.
Sawaira Riaz
Jan 08, 2023
Legume
(botany) The fruit or seed of leguminous plants (as peas or beans) used for food.
Sawaira Riaz
Jan 08, 2023
Vegetable
Offensive Slang One who is severely impaired mentally and physically, as by brain injury or disease.
Sawaira Riaz
Jan 08, 2023
Legume
(botany) Any of a large family (Fabaceae, syn. Leguminosae) of dicotyledonous herbs, shrubs, and trees having fruits that are legumes or loments, bearing nodules on the roots that contain nitrogen-fixing bacteria, and including important food and forage plants (as peas, beans, or clovers).
Sawaira Riaz
Jan 08, 2023
Legume
(botany) A pod dehiscent into two pieces or valves, and having the seed attached at one suture, as that of the pea.
Sawaira Riaz
Jan 08, 2023
Legume
A pod dehiscent into two pieces or valves, and having the seed attached at one suture, as that of the pea.
Sawaira Riaz
Jan 08, 2023
Vegetable
A plant raised for some edible part of it, such as the leaves, roots, fruit or flowers, but excluding any plant considered to be a fruit, grain, herb, or spice in the culinary sense.
Sawaira Riaz
Jan 08, 2023
Legume
The fruit or seed of any of various bean or pea plants consisting of a two-valved case that splits along both sides when ripe and having the seeds attached to one edge of the valves
Sawaira Riaz
Jan 08, 2023
Vegetable
A person whose brain (or, infrequently, body) has been damaged so that they cannot interact with the surrounding environment; a person in a persistent vegetative state.
Sawaira Riaz
Jan 08, 2023
Legume
High in protein and fiber.
Legumes are a dietary staple for many vegetarians.
Harlon Moss
Oct 07, 2023
Vegetable
Of or pertaining to plants; having the nature of, or produced by, plants; as, a vegetable nature; vegetable growths, juices, etc.
Blooming ambrosial fruitOf vegetable gold.
Sawaira Riaz
Jan 08, 2023
Vegetable
A plant used or cultivated for food for man or domestic animals, as the cabbage, turnip, potato, bean, dandelion, etc.; also, the edible part of such a plant, as prepared for market or the table.
Sawaira Riaz
Jan 08, 2023
Vegetable
A person who has permanently lost consciousness, due to damage to the brain, but remains alive; sometimes continued life requires support by machinery such as breathing tubes. Such a person is said to be in a vegetative state.
Sawaira Riaz
Jan 08, 2023
Vegetable
Edible seeds or roots or stems or leaves or bulbs or tubers or nonsweet fruits of any of numerous herbaceous plant
Sawaira Riaz
Jan 08, 2023
Vegetable
Any of various herbaceous plants cultivated for an edible part such as the fruit or the root of the beet or the leaf of spinach or the seeds of bean plants or the flower buds of broccoli or cauliflower
Sawaira Riaz
Jan 08, 2023
Vegetable
Of the nature of or characteristic of or derived from plants;
Decaying vegetable matter
A mineral deposit
Mineral water
Sawaira Riaz
Jan 08, 2023
Vegetable
Diverse category including roots, stems, and leaves.
The vegetable section at the store was vast and colorful.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 07, 2023
FAQs
What makes legumes unique from other vegetables?
Legumes are from the Fabaceae family and can fix nitrogen in the soil.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 07, 2023
Can you name a few common legumes?
Yes, beans, lentils, and peas are examples of legumes.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 07, 2023
Are all legumes vegetables?
While all legumes are technically vegetables, not all vegetables are legumes.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 07, 2023
Why are legumes beneficial for farming?
Legumes can fix atmospheric nitrogen, enriching the soil for subsequent crops.
Aimie Carlson
Oct 07, 2023
Are mushrooms considered vegetables?
Mushrooms are fungi and not botanically classified as vegetables, though they're used as such in cooking.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 07, 2023
Why are legumes sometimes called "pulses"?
"Pulses" refer specifically to the dried seeds of legume plants.
Aimie Carlson
Oct 07, 2023
Which provides more dietary fiber, legumes or vegetables?
Both can be high in fiber, but legumes generally provide more fiber per serving.
Harlon Moss
Oct 07, 2023
Which vegetables are rich in iron?
Dark leafy greens like spinach are rich sources of iron.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 07, 2023
Are potatoes considered legumes?
No, potatoes are tuberous vegetables, not legumes.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 07, 2023
Which is higher in protein, legumes or vegetables?
Legumes are generally higher in protein compared to most vegetables.
Sara Rehman
Oct 07, 2023
Are legumes suitable for gluten-free diets?
Yes, legumes are naturally gluten-free but check for cross-contamination.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 07, 2023
Are tomatoes fruits or vegetables?
Botanically, tomatoes are fruits, but they're treated as vegetables in culinary contexts.
Harlon Moss
Oct 07, 2023
Are peas a type of legume or vegetable?
Peas are legumes and also considered vegetables in culinary terms.
Harlon Moss
Oct 07, 2023
What is the healthiest way to consume vegetables?
Methods like steaming or roasting preserve the most nutrients, though it varies by vegetable.
Janet White
Oct 07, 2023
Which vegetable is highest in Vitamin C?
Bell peppers, especially red ones, are exceptionally high in Vitamin C.
Harlon Moss
Oct 07, 2023
Can you eat all parts of a vegetable?
It depends on the vegetable; some parts can be inedible or toxic.
Janet White
Oct 07, 2023
What's the difference between root vegetables and legumes?
Root vegetables are plant roots consumed as food, while legumes are Fabaceae plants or their seeds.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 07, 2023
Which has more varieties, legumes or vegetables?
Vegetables, being a broader category, have a wider range of varieties compared to legumes.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 07, 2023
Are canned legumes as healthy as fresh ones?
Canned legumes can be nutritious but may have added sodium; rinsing can help reduce it.
Sawaira Riaz
Oct 07, 2023
About Author
Written by
Sawaira RiazSawaira is a dedicated content editor at difference.wiki, where she meticulously refines articles to ensure clarity and accuracy. With a keen eye for detail, she upholds the site's commitment to delivering insightful and precise content.
Edited by
Huma SaeedHuma is a renowned researcher acclaimed for her innovative work in Difference Wiki. Her dedication has led to key breakthroughs, establishing her prominence in academia. Her contributions continually inspire and guide her field.
