Malabar Spinach Stir-Fry: A Quick and Flavorful Leafy Green Delight
Elevate your culinary experience with our Malabar Spinach Stir-Fry recipe. Discover the delicious combination of tender Malabar Spinach leaves, aromatic spices, and a hint of citrus. This quick and healthy stir-fry is perfect as a side dish or a light meal. Try it today and savor the vibrant flavors of this nutritious leafy green.
Some Information of about this:
Malabar Spinach, scientifically known as Basella alba, is a leafy green vegetable commonly known as Chinese Spinach and used in various cuisines around the world. Here’s some information about Malabar Spinach:
Appearance: Malabar Spinach is known for its unique appearance. The plant has dark green, heart-shaped leaves that are thick and fleshy. It grows on a climbing vine and is sometimes referred to as “climbing spinach” or “Indian spinach.”
Taste and Texture: Unlike regular spinach (Spinacia oleracea), Malabar Spinach has a milder and less bitter taste. Its leaves are slightly mucilaginous or slimy when cooked, similar to okra. This characteristic makes it a valuable ingredient in soups, stews, and stir-fries.
Culinary Uses: Malabar Spinach is a versatile ingredient in various cuisines, particularly in South Asian and Southeast Asian cooking. It can be used in the following ways:
Cooked Dishes: Malabar Spinach is commonly used in curries, stews, and soups. It can be added to both vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes for its flavor and texture.
Stir-Fries: The leaves can be quickly stir-fried with garlic and spices to make a nutritious side dish.
Salads: In some regions, Malabar Spinach leaves are used in salads, often combined with other greens.
Smoothies: The leaves are sometimes blended into green smoothies for their nutritional benefits.
Nutritional Benefits: Malabar Spinach is rich in vitamins and minerals, including vitamin A, vitamin C, iron, and calcium. It’s also a good source of dietary fiber. The mucilaginous quality of the leaves may help with digestive health.
Cultivation: Malabar Spinach is relatively easy to grow in warm and tropical climates. It’s a fast-growing vine and can be cultivated in home gardens. Both the leaves and young stems are edible.
Varieties: There are two main varieties of Malabar Spinach: green-stemmed and red-stemmed. The red-stemmed variety is often chosen for its ornamental value, but both varieties are equally nutritious and can be used interchangeably in recipes.
Malabar Spinach is a unique and nutritious leafy green that can add a distinct flavor and texture to a variety of dishes. Whether you enjoy it in traditional recipes or experiment with new culinary creations, Malabar Spinach is a healthy and flavorful addition to your diet.
Want to try this Tasty Malabar Spinach Fry. Let’s start
Ingredients:
Malabar Spinach-4 cups or 5 bunches
Oil-3Tbsp
Onions-2 medium size
Green Chillies-2
Ginger Garlic Paste-1Tbsp
Bengal gram (chana dal)-ÂĽcup
Turmeric-1tsp
Salt-a/c taste
Tomatoes-2
Red chilly powder-2tsp
Desiccated Coconut-1Tbsp
Garam Masala-1tsp
Preparations:
- Wash thoroughly Malabar Spinach, drain water completely, roughly chop them and set aside.
- Wash and soak Bengal gram(chana dal).
- Chop onions , tomatoes and green chillies.
METHOD:
- Heat oil in a wok wok add chopped onions,
chopped green chillies, Ginger Garlic Paste, sauté for a while. - Add washed and chopped Malabar spinach and fry for 3minutes.
- Add soaked Bengal Gram (chana dal) mix well and add turmeric, salt and cook for 5 minutes
or until dal is 70% done. - Add 2 chopped tomatoes, mix well and close the lid and cook till dal is done 100%.
- Open lid, and add red chilly powder and desiccated coconut , mix well and simmer for 1 minute.
- Finally sprinkle 1tsp garam masala..
Serve hot with paratha or pulka and Enjoy!!!!
Tips:
- Serves 2-3.
- Goes well with Paratha, Roti, pulka or steamed rice and Daal.
Also Try Drumstick leaves Fry
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