When used as a snap bean like green beans, the dragon tongue bean can be used in a wide range of dishes. It is usually lightly blanched or sauteed to preserve the fresh, crisp flavor. The beans also look somewhat unusual, with a white to creamy yellow background mottled with rich purple streaks and spots. When cooked, the purple spots on the dragon tongue bean tend to disappear. Since dragon tongue beans are stringless, they are very easy to prepare, requiring only a quick wash and a trim before use.