Just nicked this fro another site
mm Runner beans. Kidney beans P. Runner beans. Kidney beans P. vulgaris - has a dark red skin. vulgaris - has a dark red skin. Sometimes called Chilli beans. Sometimes called Chilli beans. The raw beans must be boiled The raw beans must be boiled for ten minutes before they are for ten minutes before they are edible. The boiling degrades a edible. The boiling degrades a toxic compound which toxic compound which otherwise causes severe otherwise causes severe gastric upset. Runner beans P. gastric upset. Runner beans P. coccineus - usually only the coccineus - usually only the seeds are eaten more often seeds are eaten more often than not in the form of than not in the form of immature seedpods. immature seedpods.
However virtually the whole However virtually the whole plant is actually edible here is a plant is actually edible here is a breakdown of how each part is breakdown of how each part is used: used:
Immature seedpods - raw or Immature seedpods - raw or cooked. They have a pleasant cooked. They have a pleasant mild flavour and are widely mild flavour and are widely used as a vegetable in many used as a vegetable in many areas of the world. They can be areas of the world. They can be added to salads, cooked as a added to salads, cooked as a vegetable or added to soups, vegetable or added to soups, stews etc... stews etc...
The immature seed is used like The immature seed is used like shelled beans as a vegetable. shelled beans as a vegetable.
The protein-rich mature seeds The protein-rich mature seeds can be dried and stored for can be dried and stored for future use. They need to be future use. They need to be thoroughly cooked before being thoroughly cooked before being eaten in order to degrade a eaten in order to degrade a toxic compound which toxic compound which otherwise causes mild gastric otherwise causes mild gastric upset. They are soaked for 12 upset. They are soaked for 12 hours prior to use and are hours prior to use and are eaten boiled or added to soups eaten boiled or added to soups etc. The seed can also be etc. The seed can also be ground into a powder and ground into a powder and added to cereal flours for added to cereal flours for making protein-enriched bread making protein-enriched bread etc... etc...
Flowers - raw. A bean-like Flowers - raw. A bean-like taste. taste.
Young leaves - cooked and Young leaves - cooked and used as a potherb. used as a potherb.
Root - cooked. Rich in starch Root - cooked. Rich in starch