Ready & Packaged Foods
All →Vegetables & Legumes
All →Desserts & Confectionery
All →Meat & Protein
All →Grains & Bakery
All →Beverages
All →Milk & Dairy
All →🌶️
Cowpeas preserved in brine or vinegar with chili and spices; low in calories but high in sodium.
In season: Summer · Autumn
CALORIES · 100 G
GI
POTASSIUM · 100 G
FIBER · 100 G
1 tablespoon (medium) of Spicy cowpea pickle (15 g) has 5 calories. That works out to 35 calories per 100 g. It contains 0.8 g of carbs, 0.3 g of protein, 0.1 g of fat and 0.4 g of fiber. Its glycemic index is 15 (low), so it raises blood sugar slowly.
Selected: 1 tablespoon (medium) · 15 g
5
KCAL / 15G
Carbs
0.8g
· 0% DV
Protein
0.3g
· 1% DV
Fat
0.1g
· 0% DV
Fiber
0.4g
· 1% DV
DV is the share of the daily value covered, on a 2,000 kcal reference diet.
Calories come from: Carbs 60% · Protein 23% · Fat 17%
| Nutrient | Amount | % DV |
|---|---|---|
| Calories | 5 kcal | |
| Total fat | 0.1 g | 0% |
| Saturated fat | 0.02 g | 0% |
| Trans fat | 0 g | |
| Sodium | 143 mg | 6% |
| Total carbohydrate | 0.8 g | 0% |
| Fiber | 0.4 g | 1% |
| Protein | 0.3 g | 1% |
Calories: Calories measure energy. Average daily need is 2,000 kcal. Excess calories are stored as fat, too few cause weight loss.
Carbs: Your body's primary energy source. The brain runs exclusively on carbs. Daily need: 275g.
Protein: Essential for muscle repair and cell growth. Daily need: 50g. Keeps you full and boosts metabolism.
Fat: Needed for hormone production and vitamin absorption. Daily need: 78g. Limit saturated fats, choose unsaturated.
Fiber: Critical for digestive health and satiety. Daily need: 28g. Stabilizes blood sugar, lowers cholesterol.
Log this food in EatBetter
100,000+ people use it
📸 Scan the code to get the app free.

| Serving | Amount | Calories |
|---|---|---|
| 1 tablespoon (medium) | 15 g | 5 kcal |
| 1 teaspoon (small) | 5 g | 2 kcal |
| 2 tablespoon (large) | 30 g | 11 kcal |
| 1 serving (small) | 30 g | 11 kcal |
| 0.25 cup (quarter) | 60 g | 21 kcal |
| 1 serving (medium) | 60 g | 21 kcal |
| 100 g | 100 g | 35 kcal |
| ½ cup (half) | 120 g | 42 kcal |
| 1 cup (whole) | 240 g | 84 kcal |
Calculated from 35 calories per 100 g.
Spicy cowpea pickle is made by packing cleaned cowpeas with chili, garlic and spices, then covering them with vinegar or brine. Follow a tested recipe for the liquid proportions, and keep the beans submerged while they pickle.
Spicy cowpea pickle can be either vinegar-pickled or fermented in brine; the method depends on the recipe. Vinegar gives a sharp, immediate tang, while fermentation develops sourness over time, so the two methods are not interchangeable.
Spicy cowpea pickle should be refrigerated after opening and kept in a tightly closed, clean jar. Use a clean utensil each time and keep the cowpeas below the liquid to limit spoilage.
Spicy cowpea pickle keeps best when refrigerated after opening, but its safe storage time depends on how it was made and handled. Discard it if you see mold, notice an unpleasant smell, or find the beans slimy.
Spicy cowpea pickle can turn soft if the cowpeas were overcooked or if the pickling liquid was not acidic enough. Briefly cook the beans, cool them before packing, and use the vinegar and salt proportions in a reliable recipe.
For many spicy cowpea pickle recipes, the cowpeas are briefly blanched before they go into the jar. This softens them while helping them retain a firm bite; avoid cooking them until fully tender.
Spicy cowpea pickle works as a tangy side with rice, beans, grilled meats, sandwiches, or a grain bowl. Serve a small spoonful alongside richer foods, since its sharp, salty flavor can dominate a plate.
Yes, you can briefly rinse spicy cowpea pickle before serving to wash away some surface brine. It will also lose some of its tang and spice, and rinsing does not remove all the salt inside the beans.
Yes, spicy cowpea pickle can be chopped into salads, relishes, or sandwiches for a sour, spicy bite. Add it near the end of cooking so it keeps more of its texture and does not make the dish overly salty.
Only use a tested canning recipe if you want spicy cowpea pickle to be shelf-stable. A homemade jar with an unverified vinegar or brine ratio should be refrigerated; sealing it tightly does not make it safe to store at room temperature.
Vitamins
Vitamin K
2.55µg · 2% DV
Vitamin C
0.63mg · 1% DV
Folate
2.7µg · 1% DV
B2
0.01mg · 1% DV
Minerals
Sodium
143mg · 6% DV
Copper
0.01mg · 1% DV
Manganese
0.02mg · 1% DV
Phosphorus
5.7mg · 1% DV
Potassium ⭐
23mg · 1% DV
GLYCEMIC INDEX
GLYCEMIC LOAD
Accounts for portion size — a more realistic measure than GI alone.
To burn the 5 calories in 1 tablespoon (medium) (15 g):
🚶
Walking (5 km/h)
🏃
Running (8 km/h)
🚴
Cycling
🏊
Swimming
Times are calculated with the MET equation for a 70 kg adult. Actual burn varies with your weight, age and pace.
Spicy cowpea pickle is made by preserving cowpeas in brine or vinegar with chilli and spices, a preparation found in Turkish home cooking. The beans usually keep some bite, with a tangy, salty flavour and a lingering heat from the chilli.
In Turkey, it is served in small portions alongside meals or as part of a meze spread; elsewhere, it also works as a sharp, spicy accent with grains, beans or grilled vegetables. It is low in calories and provides some fibre, but the brine makes it high in sodium. If you are watching your salt intake, use a little, rinse the beans before serving, or pair them with simply cooked, unsalted foods.
High
How many vitamins, minerals and how much fiber this food carries per calorie. A high score means a lot of nutrition for few calories.
Medium
An EatBetter score computed from fiber, protein and calorie density. A high score means staying full longer on the same calories.
Both scores are calculated per 100 g and do not change with the selected portion. The satiety score is EatBetter's own calculation, not a clinical measure.
NOVA 2
Minimally Processed
1. Unprocessed
2. Minimally Processed
3. Processed
4. Ultra-Processed
NOVA classifies foods into 4 groups by industrial processing. NOVA 1 (unprocessed) is the healthiest.
No known major allergens
Vegan
✓ Suitable
Vegetarian
✓ Suitable
Gluten-Free
✓ Suitable
Dairy-Free
— Not suitable
Mediterranean
✓ Suitable
Paleo
— Not suitable
Whole30
— Not suitable
DASH
— Not suitable
Keto
— Not suitable
Low FODMAP
— Not suitable
SATURATED
0.02g
MONOUNSATURATED
0.02g
POLYUNSATURATED
0.04g
Ask the AI nutrition coach — calories, portions, alternatives and more, answered in seconds in the app.
Nutrition data compiled from USDA FoodData Central and scientific sources.