✦ Most protein-dense legume: ~36g/100g ✦ Complete amino acids ✦ Isoflavones, calcium, and iron ✦ Foundation of all soya foods

Dried soybeans are the most protein-dense legume in dry form (~36g/100g), with a complete amino acid profile. They also provide very high amounts of iron, calcium, magnesium, isoflavones, and ALA omega-3 fatty acids. They require long soaking and cooking, but are the raw material for all soya-based foods.

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Preparation note

Soak 12 hours (or overnight), drain, and boil in fresh water for 2-3 hours until fully soft; they require long cooking to neutralise trypsin inhibitors. Alternatively use a pressure cooker (40-50 minutes).

Sources: CoFID 2021

Macronutrients per 100g

370
kcal
Energy
35.9
g
Protein
15.8
g
Carbs
15.7
g
Fibre
18.6
g
Fat
5.50
g
Sugars
2.30
g
Saturates
0.01
g
Salt

Vitamins & Minerals

Nutrient Per 100g % Daily Value* Level
Potassium 1,730 mg 87%
Phosphorus 660 mg 94%
Folate 370 µg 185%
Magnesium 250 mg 67%
Calcium 240 mg 30%
Selenium 14.0 µg 25%
Iron 9.70 mg 69%
Niacin equivalents (NE) 7.90 mg 49%
Chloride 7.00 mg 1%
Zinc 4.30 mg 43%
Vitamin E (alpha-TE) 2.90 mg 24%
Manganese 2.60 mg 130%
Niacin (B3) 2.20 mg 14%
Vitamin A (RE) 2.00 µg 0%
Copper 1.55 mg 155%
Pantothenic Acid (B5) 0.790 mg 13%
Thiamin (B1) 0.610 mg 55%
Vitamin B6 0.380 mg 27%
Riboflavin (B2) 0.270 mg 19%
Vitamin B12 0.000 µg 0%
Vitamin D 0.000 µg 0%
Vitamin C 0.000 mg 0%
Iodine 6.00 µg 4%
Polyunsaturated fat (PUFA) 9.10 g —
Monounsaturated fat 3.50 g —
Sucrose 4.80 g —
Fructose 0.500 g —
Glucose (dextrose) 0.200 g —
Maltose 0.000 g —
Cholesterol 0.000 mg —
Beta-carotene 12.0 µg —
Biotin (Vitamin B7) 65.0 µg 130%
Retinol (vitamin A) 0.000 µg 0%

* % Daily Value is the proportion of an adult EU Nutrient Reference Value (NRV) supplied by 100g of this food. NRVs are the labelling standard — the same basis as the “%RI” figures printed on food packaging — so these percentages are directly comparable with a shop label. They are a single adult figure and do not vary by age or sex, which is why they sometimes differ from UK dietary reference values: the NRV for vitamin C is 80mg where the UK RNI is 40mg. When Nutriofia assesses your own intake in the reports and trackers, it uses the age- and sex-specific UK values instead.

Fibre is shown without a percentage. Our fibre values use the UK Englyst NSP method, while the published 30g daily goal is an AOAC figure — the two are measured differently and a single percentage would mislead. How we source and normalise our data →

Sources: CoFID 2021
Pulses & Legumes Beans Phytochemical data available High fibre High protein 🇬🇧 CoFID 2021 · 13-115