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Winged Beans grow on a perennial vine that grows up to 16 feet (5 metres) tall. It needs short days to bear well. It is a tropical plant, and is frost sensitive.
The vine produces deep-ridged, four-sided pods, that have four leaves attached right to them, making it look as though the pods have wings, or as though they are ruffled. The leaves are 3 to 6 inches (7.5 to 15 cm) long, ending in a point.
The pods, which can be green, purple or reddish, are ready to harvest and eat within 3 months of planting.
The pods can be up to 19 inches (50 cm) long, but are better harvested when younger. When the pods are only 4 to 6 inches (10 to 15 cm) long, they can be eaten like green beans, raw or cooked.
The seeds inside are round and green when ripe.
Winged Beans have a starchy texture, and a taste somewhere between cranberry beans and green beans.
Underground, the vines grow tubers which can be harvested and cooked up like other starchy root vegetables. The tubers need at least 4 months of growth and will be 3 to 4 inches (8 to 12 cm) long, 1 to 1 1/2 inches (2 to 4 cm) wide.
The leaves of Winged Beans taste like spinach.
Winged Beans are grown in southern India, Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Philippines. It is not farmed, but rather grown mostly in home gardens. It is now being tried commercially in South Florida.
Cooking Tips
Wash, top and tail.
Mature Winged Beans seeds need to be boiled or stewed until tender.
Young Winged Beans, can be cooked as you would peas.
Winged Beans tubers are boiled, fried or baked. Peel after boiling.
Nutrition
Per 1 cup (60 g / 20 oz) boiled and drained: 24 calories, 0 g fat, 2 g carbohydrate, 3 g protein.
Equivalents
1 cup young beans boiled and drained = 60 g = 2 oz
Storage
Keep fresh Winged Beans in the fridge in a plastic bag for up to 3 days.
History
Winged Beans are native to Papua New Guinea and were introduced into India in 1799.
Language Notes
Winged Beans are also sometimes called "Winged Pea" and "Asparagus Bean", though those names used to be reserved for a European bean. Asparagus Bean is also used for Chinese Long Bean.
The Yard-long Bean is sometimes also called "asparagus bean."
Also called:  Asparagus Pea
Dambala
Four-Angled Bean
Goa Bean
Manila Bean
Princess Pea
See Also
Winged Pea
Other entries for Beans
Adzuki Beans, Anasazi Beans, Apache Beans, Appaloosa Beans, Aramis Beans, Aunt Emma's Beans, Baccicia Beans, Baked Beans, Bayo Beans (Louisiana), Black Beans, Black Nightfall Beans, Bleu du Lac St-Jean Beans, Broad Beans, Brown Rice Beans, Bush Beans, Canary Beans, Chana Dal, Chickashaw Beans, Chickpeas, Chinese Long Bean, Cow-Itch Beans, Cowpeas, Cranberry Beans, Crochu de Savoie Beans, Dainagon Beans, Dolico Veneto Beans, Dragon Tongue Beans, Dry Beans, European Soldier Beans, Falcon Rice Beans, Flageolet Beans, Flor de Junio Beans, Flor de Mayo Beans, Fortin Family Beans, Fradinho Beans, French Fillet Beans, Garboncito Beans, Garrofo Beans, Good Mother Stallard Beans, Great Northern Beans, Green Beans, Green Flageolet Beans, Green Rice Beans, Hopi Black Pinto Beans, Jackson Wonder Beans, Kahnawake Mohawk Beans, Kunde Beans, Lablab Beans, Lima Beans, Lupini Beans, Madeira Beans, Magpie Beans, Mexican Bayo Beans, Moth Beans, Mung Beans, Navy Beans, Nodak Beans, Pebble Beans, Peruano Beans, Pigeon Peas, Pink Beans, Pinto Beans, Pole Beans, Rattlesnake Beans, Red Ball Beans, Red Kidney Beans, Red Nightfall Beans, Refugee Beans, Rice Beans (Asian), Rice Beans, Rio Zappe Beans, Romano Beans, Runner Beans, Sangre de Toros Beans, Sator Beans, Seluga Beans, Shelling Beans, Soybeans, Tarahumara Canario Beans, Tepary Beans, Tiger's Eye Beans, Tolosana Beans, Toscanelli Beans, Trout Beans, Tweed Wonder Beans, Vallarta Beans, Wax Beans, Wild Goose Beans, Winged Beans, Witkiem Beans, Zolfino Pratomagno Beans
Other entries for Legumes
Lentils, Peas
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