COOKING WITH PROSOPIS FLOUR

Introduction

Prosopis are drought-resistant, nitrogen-fixing trees, which are extremely hardy in poor and saline soils, and can grow where most other vegetation fails. The common Prosopis species in tropical drylands around the world today is P. juliflora, native to Central and South America, but introduced around the world over the past two centuries to reforest barren lands. It has many uses: for livestock fodder, wood for fuel, timber for furniture and building, livestock fencing, charcoal, medicine, pest control, shade, soil stabilization, soil fertility improvement and human food from the pods and honey from abundant flowers. However, although this tree can offer a crucial contribution to reclaiming desert lands, it has been widely condemned due to its invasive nature. It spreads rapidly by seeds along water courses and across grazing lands, and being thorny and shrubby, can quickly form impenetrable thickets, blocking roads and preventing access to water. This, coupled with the general lack of knowledge on its management and uses where introduced, has meant that up till now it is not used to its full potential in many regions where it is found.See full details