biostudies-literatureBorbi MUnited States Department of Agriculture's USDA-OREIAmerican Association of University Women (AAUW)Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation-Next Generation Uganda, Folic Acid and Iron: Next Generation Nutrition in UgandaMargaret McNamara US-Canada program (MMEG)8715-8729https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC11673565biostudies-literatureUnknown89(12)Indigenous fruits and vegetables can improve food security and biodiversity. However, their use is hindered by perishability, seasonal availability, cooking losses, lack of nutritional composition data, and connections to low socioeconomic status. This study aimed to process cowpea leaves into powder and determine the effect of five home-cooking methods on their protein, functional, physicochemical, and heavy metal profiles. Cowpea leaves were boiled, blanched, steamed, sous-vide cooked, and stir-fried, at 5, 10, and 15 min before dehydration at 60°C. Cowpea leaves contain protein up to 20 g/100 g. The leaves are rich in calcium, potassium, and zinc, providing up to 70% of the adult recommended dietary allowance for calcium and potassium per 100 g of powder. Cowpea leaf powder exhibited goJournal of food scienceEffects of different processing methods on the functional, nutritional, and physicochemical profiles of cowpea leaf powder.PMC116735652018-51300-28433OPP1198713 INV-009788Borbi MWeatherspoon LWiesinger JDolan KGlahn RJackson JBourquin LfalseEffects of different processing methods on the functional, nutritional, and physicochemical profiles of cowpea leaf powder.Indigenous fruits and vegetables can improve food security and biodiversity. However, their use is hindered by perishability, seasonal availability, cooking losses, lack of nutritional composition data, and connections to low socioeconomic status. This study aimed to process cowpea leaves into powder and determine the effect of five home-cooking methods on their protein, functional, physicochemical, and heavy metal profiles. Cowpea leaves were boiled, blanched, steamed, sous-vide cooked, and stir-fried, at 5, 10, and 15 min before dehydration at 60°C. Cowpea leaves contain protein up to 20 g/100 g. The leaves are rich in calcium, potassium, and zinc, providing up to 70% of the adult recommended dietary allowance for calcium and potassium per 100 g of powder. Cowpea leaf powder exhibited go2024-01-01T00:00:00Z2024 Dec2025-04-04T02:14:26.004Z2025-04-04T02:14:26.004ZS-EPMC116735653967647910.1111/1750-3841.17569