Petai is not easily digested by everyone, either you like the taste of it or the other way around. Petai, also known as stink beans is bitter in taste, all the more the strong smell is pervasive. The smell also lingers in the mouth and body once the beans are eaten and the same smell is obvious when urinating. The amino acids in the beans is the cause of the smell and can take about 2 days before its totally gone. Having said that, petai contains plenty of nutrients and eaten them can do good to our health. If you would like to know more on the goodness of petai, here's my post on Benefits of Eating Petai in which I have also shared another one of my petai recipe.
You will need to peel of the skin of the petai to get the beans out first before using them for cooking. Petai can also be eaten raw as a salad, cooked with other ingredients like fresh or dried prawns as well as with dried anchovies. The smell of the beans may not be that obvious when combined with other ingredients, making it slightly pleasant in taste. For us, we enjoy petai cooked with anchovies and combined in chillies for the spicy flavor. I have not heard of petai eaten with anything else except with white rice. We too do the same when petai is prepared for our meals at home.
Ingredients
200g petai pods - sliced into smaller pieces
100g small anchovies - soaked for 10 mins and drained
1 tbsp lime juice
1 tsp white sugar
5 tbsp oil
salt to taste
To be grounded/pounded roughly
5 shallots
5-6 birds eye chillies or red chillies
Method
When oil is heated, fry the anchovies till crispy and brown in color.
Remove and keep aside.
In the same oil, fry the grounded/pounded ingredients
Continue frying for about 3-4 mins.
Add in the beans, stirring in between.
Cook the beans to a texture you prefer, either totally soften or half cooked.
Add in lime juice, sugar and salt.
Stir all in together before removing from heat.
U're right, Nava! My family hates Petai. Can I just have the anchovies pleeeeese! Heehee!
ReplyDeleteInteresting legume here. I have never seen or heard of these. However, your link was helpful. The other ingredients sound like they would be a great blend to add to many veggies to have a nice pop of flavor. Great post!
ReplyDeleteThe combination petai and anchovies is something new to me. Will keep this recipe in mind =)
ReplyDeleteThe chilis in this dish are calling my name!
ReplyDeleteHow interesting - I have never had petai. I'd love to try them, though, it sounds like an experience!
ReplyDeleteStink beans doesn't do them many favours! Really interesting dish, never seen anything similar.
ReplyDeleteyes! my all time favs :)
ReplyDeletei absolutely love this dish. love petai and i like this dish even more when its cooked with the skin.
ReplyDeleteI'm very curious to know what something called "stink beans" actually smells like. With that said, I love anchovies and pretty much all legumes, so I bet I'd like this.
ReplyDeleteStink beans???? I have a feeling they wouldn't be popular in my picky household! But I'm willing to give them a try...as your dish is stunning!
ReplyDeleteI have never heard or seen these beans, checked your link for benefits.I am sure I can eat this. Anything with lemon and sugar would taste good.
ReplyDeleteuhhhhh .. petai is not my type of food..
ReplyDeletemaybe when i was younger my parents didn't cook this dish at home..
but my parents like the dish ..
I remember these! And remember having to peel them for my granny! I was one of the few who loved them, in my family! Awesome!
ReplyDeleteI've never heard of these but surely sounds like something i'd like to try. Great idea to add veggies. Sounds like a wholesome dish. :)
ReplyDeleteHi Nava,
ReplyDeleteThis is an interesting post. I have never heard of this bean before but would love to try this dish! looks so colorful and healthy.
This beans is so popular over here but not everyone can digest them. Its really good for health and now my other half is slowing learning to eat the beans or petai.
ReplyDeleteLooks delicious especially with the ikan bilis sambal! I know petai is good for us but I am not quite keen on the taste. :D
ReplyDeletehow delicious looking..love your presentation
ReplyDeleteTasty Appetite
i love petai so much is my fravor :3
ReplyDeleteI miss petai!! And you know what.. I ate petai when furthering studies in KL and their petai is much different in taste with ours here in Sabah. Sabah's taste much better with strong smell of petai!!
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My mom is famous for her petai sambal. Me on the other hand, don't share the same affection for petai ;)
ReplyDelete