Sesbania

Sesbania grandiflora · Edible flower

40 pairings

Sesbania (agati or katurai) is the large, curved, pea-shaped flower of the vegetable hummingbird tree, Sesbania grandiflora. Borne in white or deep-red forms, the fleshy blossoms are a staple edible flower across South and Southeast Asia — the petals stripped from their bitter stamen and pistil, then stir-fried, folded into curries and soups, blanched into salads, or beaten with egg into savoury omelettes.

Picking a good onedrag

Plump, springy, colour evenBrown, translucent, slimy

Market freshOpen each flower and pinch out the green calyx, the ring of stamens and the central pistil - the bitter parts - then blanch or stir-fry the petals.Everyday best

The blossomJust opening, a faint bruise line on a petal

In the handSoft but whole, petals still part cleanly

Calyx and stalkCup green, its rim just starting to dry

Smell at the bunchAlmost nothing, clean and vegetal

What to look for, from plump, springy, colour even to brown, translucent, slimy.

Preparing