Guajes (Huajes) are the seed pod of the Leucaena tree. An exotic vegetable consumed in Mexico and some Southeast Asian countries, guajes look like incredibly long sugar snap peas.

Both the outer pods and inner seeds of guajes range in color from bright green to rust red (and sometimes green with red blotches). That red tint (when they have it) is normal. Apparently, the outer pods of guajes can be chopped and used to flavor dishes. They have a significantly stronger garlic bite but are rather woody. All the recipes we’ve seen call for just using the seeds.

To extract the seeds, you need to peel the pods. Doing so can be tricky at first, but with the right technique and a little practice it’s a breeze – much like opening pea pods.