Cookbook:Bitter Bean

Cookbook | Recipes | Ingredients | Vegetables

Bitter bean pods
Fried bitter beans

The bitter bean, also called stink bean, petai, or twisted cluster bean is the fruit of the legume Parkia speciosa.

CharacteristicsEdit

Bitter beans grow in green pods. The young pods are tender and may be eaten whole. When mature, the beans are bright green, resembling broad beans, and must be removed from the pod. The mature beans may also be dried for long-term storage, which causes the beans to darken in color.

Bitter beans have a characteristic odor due to their sulfur-containing compounds.

UsesEdit

Bitter beans are primarily consumed in Southeast Asia. The young tender bean pods may be eaten whole and raw, but they may also be fried or pickled. The mature beans are often used in stir fries and paired with other strongly-flavored ingredients.

External linksEdit