Light green variety snake bean (left) and dark green variety snake bean (right). Also known yard long bean, long bean or tau kok in Cantonese
It is an annual, climbing and twinning plant. Widely grown in Southeast Asia. There are two varieties of snake beans, one is light green, fat and spongy; the other is thinner and a darker green. The former is commonly sold in Australia. This is the bean from which the black-eyed pea is derived. The peas are often kidney shaped and can be coloured buff, brown, red, black or white. The white seeds contain a pigment confined to a small “eye” – these are described as black-eyed peas.
Look for the younger immature beans with smaller seeds. Trim both ends, cut into 5 cm lengths for stir-fry, thinly sliced and added to Thai fish cake, omelets or fried rice.
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