Abhai / Chopdi / अभई / चोपडी / आबई / Sword Bean / Canavalia gladiata

  • Local Name: Abhai / Chopdi / अभई / चोपडी / आबई
  • Common Name: Sword Bean
  • Botanical Name: Canavalia gladiata

Status & Habitat

  • Habitat: Climber / Twiner

  • Occurrence: Along Bunds of Fields

  • Season of Availability: April - October

  • Geography: Asia, Africa, the Americas, and the Pacific Islands

  • Method of Propagation: Seed propagation

  • Part used for Propagation: Seeds

Edible Parts

  • Edible Parts: Pods

  • Can be Eaten Raw: No

Method of Consumption

  • Raw: No

  • Ripe: No

  • Both Raw & Ripe: No

  • Dangerous Form to Consume: Dry Mature Seeds in Large Quantities

  • As Food: Young Green Pods can be eaten as a normal
    sauteed vegetable or as a boiled green vegetable

  • As Medicine: Eating it helps treat gastritis; has anti-cancer and anti-inflammatory properties.

  • Cooking Method: Young pods are sauteed into a vegetable like gavar.
    Detoxification of dry mature seeds is possible by changing the cooking water, soaking, rinsing or fermentation

  • Preservation / Curing Technique: Fermenting

  • Does Require Another Plants to be cooked together: No

  • Souring Agents Required: No


Nutritional & Medicinal Benefits

  • Nutritional Benefit: Rich in proteins and carbohydrates.

  • Medicinal Benefit: Effective against gastritis; has anti-cancer and anti-inflammatory properties.

Tribal Wisdom

  • Tribal Wisdom: Effective against gastritis; has anti-cancer and anti-inflammatory properties.

Recipes / Usage

  • Tribal Recipe / Usage: Sabji: Heat 2 tablespoons of oil in a heavy-bottomed pan. Sputter cumin, poppy seeds, and melon seeds with a pinch of turmeric powder. Add garlic paste and fry for 30 seconds on medium-low heat. Stir in powdered masala and salt. Cook steamed sword bean and potato for 3-4 minutes on medium-low heat with the lid on, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking. Remove from heat.