Winged Beans: The Nutritious Vegetable You May Not Be Eating Enough Of

What if one of the most interesting vegetables in the world isn’t sitting in your local supermarket’s produce section?

Winged beans are a tropical legume that deserve more attention. Their unusual shape, edible pods, and impressive nutritional profile make them an interesting addition to a varied diet.

Sometimes called goa beans or asparagus peas, winged beans have been cultivated in parts of Asia and Africa for generations. And while they aren’t a miracle food, they can provide a useful combination of protein, fiber, vitamins, minerals, and plant-based nutrients.

What Are Winged Beans?

Winged beans are the pods of a tropical legume known scientifically as Psophocarpus tetragonolobus.

The pods are easy to recognize because they have four distinctive ridges or “wings” running along their length.

Depending on the region and variety, different parts of the plant can be eaten, including:

• Young pods
• Mature seeds
• Leaves
• Flowers
• Tubers

This makes winged beans unusual among food crops. Several parts of the plant can contribute to the diet.

1. A Useful Source of Plant Protein

One reason winged beans attract nutritional interest is their protein content.

Like other legumes, their mature seeds can provide substantial plant-based protein. Protein plays an important role in maintaining muscles, supporting tissues, and producing enzymes and other substances the body needs.