Bitter Bean - Petai

The Bitter bean (Parkia Speciosa) or Pedai produces long, flat edible beans with bright green seeds the size and shape of almonds which have a rather peculiar smell, similar to shiitake mushroom.

When young the pods are flat because the seeds have not yet developed, and they hang like a bunch of slightly twisted ribbons, pale green, almost translucent. At this stage they may be eaten raw, fried or pickled. The young tender pods with undeveloped beans can be used whole in stir-fried dishes.