Winged Bean

Description

Common Name: Winged Bean
Scientific Name: Psophocarpus tetragonolobus
Family Name: Fabaceae

Edible Uses :

• All the plant parts, seeds, tender, immature pods, young leaves, flowers and tubers are edible and consumed as food.
• Tuberous roots are consumed both cooked and raw in Papua New Guinea and Myanmar.
• Young pods at the 10–15 cm stage are eaten raw and cooked.
• Young leaves and shoots and young pods are eaten raw or steamed as lalab and in sayor, in a side dish with rice called trantjam ketjepir made up of sliced young tender pods mixed with similarly sliced cucumber and sambal in Indonesia.
• Young leaves are cooked and eaten as greens.
• Young tender pods are eaten raw as ulam (vegetable salad) usually with sambal belachan in Malaysia.
• Young pods are sliced and fried with sambal and pounded dried shrimps.
• Ripe seeds are consumed as delicacy in pindang or eaten roasted.
• Flowers and flower buds eaten as petjel in Java.
• Flowers are used to color rice and pastries.
• Ripe seeds are fried as like kacang goreng in madura.
• Seed are rich in proteins and has similar uses to that of soya beans – edible oil, milk, tofu, bean curd, tempeh, miso etc.
• Winged bean flour can be used as protein supplement in bread making.
• Finely chopped beans are added in salads, stir-fries, and sambal.
• Whole immature pods may be grilled and seasoned with oil, salt and pepper.
• Tender leafy greens and shoots cooked in stews and stir-fries.

Medicinal Uses :

• Helps Prevent Premature Aging.
• Reduces Headaches and Migraines.
• Ensures a Healthy Pregnancy.
• Inflammation and Sprains.
• Helps Prevent Vision Problems.
• Weight loss, Weakness.
• Can Help Prevent Diabetes and Asthma.
• Increases Immunity and Fights Colds.
• Leaves were used in a compound lotion for small pox in Peninsular Malaysia.
• Root as poultice to cure vertigo in Myanmar.
• Pods and the edible tubers are considered roborant (tonic) in New Guinea.
• Leaves and seed are eaten to cure skin sores such as boils and ulcers.

References : – https://www.healthbenefitstimes.com/winged-bean/