Petai

 

Petai, is a unique green bean used in Malaysian home cooking. It grows in long pods on a large tree of the

Legume family, Parkia speciosa. Petai is semi-wild; it is grown on the outskirts of villages.

It is also gathered directly from the forest. The beans have its unique pungency.

It is usually cooked in sambal tumis ikan bilis, a fried chilli paste with dried anchovies.

In my case, I have my own Jong family recipe passed down from my mother.

 

Traditionally, petai is believed to flush or “cleanse” the kidneys and urinary tract.

How true? I don’t really know or care but you get a sense of its effect, from the

pungent urine, after your petai meal.