Asparagus beans

Asparagus beans are the long, slender pods of Vigna sesquipedalis, legumes that resemble string beans but are actually related to cowpeas. Called sitao, yard-long beans or Chinese long beans, with pods that can stretch to three feet, they are picked young, before reaching full length, and used in salads or stir-fries. The young leaves and stems are steamed and eaten as greens. Their flavour is similar to string beans with a note likened to asparagus. Heat-loving and productive, they are a staple vegetable across Southeast Asia, where quick cooking preserves their crisp texture, bright colour, and nutritional value, and they are increasingly available in Western markets.