Sword Bean

Canavalia gladiata has long flat pods that are eaten as green beans are, as a fresh-cooked vegetable. They can be sliced crosswise and used in place of green beans or long beans in dishes such as Hasna Begum’s Mixed Vegetable Curry or Shredded Green Bean Mallum. A similar New World bean is called jack bean. Sword beans are sold, when in season, at South Asian groceries (see photograph).