Can Malabar Spinach Be Eaten Raw?

Years ago, I tried something called Malabar spinach, but I wasn’t very impressed with it—maybe because of its texture, or something else? It seemed a little too gelatinous to me. But last year, I gave it another go, and I had a great time. Perhaps it was the cook that made the difference. Whatever the case, this heat-loving summer vine yields a plentiful supply of leaves that can be substituted for spinach during the summer.

Originating in tropical Asia, malabar spinach is a perennial tropical plant with a maximum height of ten feet. Indian spinach, also known as Ceylon spinach, vine spinach, or climbing spinach, is cultivated as an annual plant in the north but can withstand most winters in this region as a perennial. Even though they are perennial, I like to begin a fresh crop every year from seed or cuttings. Although seeds take ten to twenty-one days to germinate, soaking them overnight will speed up this process. Cuttings also root readily in any potting medium.

In any case, I like Malabar spinach and have a new crop started for 2020 – you can as well! For more information on all types of edible ornamental suitable for growing in our area, please visit https://www.mymumusedtosay,com/. I did learn to love asparagus and now Malabar spinach – I must have really matured! facebook. com/CharlotteMGLifeline/. Ralph E. Mitchell is the UF/IFAS Charlotte County Extension Service’s Director and Horticulture Agent. He can be reached at 941-764-4344 or ralph. mitchell@charlottecountyfl. gov.

Although the Malabar spinach variety with all-green leaves is widely grown, there is a red-stemmed cultivar with green leaves with pink veins that is equally beautiful and edible. To create a tower of edible leaves, grow Malabar spinach up a fence, a trellis of some kind, or a fencing cone. I cultivate mine in a fifteen-gallon pot that is fixed with an old plastic fencing cone that is fastened to multiple poles. After that, I can train the twining vines to climb and circle the tower. Cutting off pieces to consume keeps the majority of the vines contained and reroutes growth to maintain a compact shape. The Malabar spinach plant produces pink to white flowers in late summer or early autumn, which are followed by purple berries that can stain At this point the leaves can get bitter. Shorter days and dryness both cause flowers to bloom.

You can eat the thick, succulent, heart-shaped leaves raw, steamed, or boiled. Similar to okra, Malabar spinach can also be used to thicken stews because of their somewhat viscous nature. You should definitely look up recipes online or have your Malabar spinach prepared by someone who knows what they’re doing.

How to Grow Malabar Spinach

Malabar spinach thrives in the summer heat, unlike true spinach, which prefers the fall and spring seasons. To give my seeds a head start, I soak them for an entire night.

Plant in well-drained, rich soil in full sunlight. I grew it in Minnesota (728 feet), but it did well there even though it prefers elevations of 1,500 feet or higher. Be sure to water it well and keep it moist. It prefers humidity, so you might need to mist it occasionally in arid climates. The soil should have a pH of 7-8, which is slightly alkaline. Give it something to climb on, like a tomato cage, or a trellis or twine. For ease of use, it’s best to keep it contained; one year, I made the mistake of letting mine get into the trees, which made harvesting very challenging.

Malabar spinach doesn’t seem to be affected by many pests or illnesses, so sparingly applying something like neem oil is probably not required.

Remember to gather your seeds at the end of summer or leave your seeds on the vine. You’ll have a whole new crop waiting to be sown!.

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Can you eat Malabar spinach raw or cooked?

You can eat malabar spinach raw or cooked! If you are eating it raw, it has thick leaves that are very juicy and crispy. If you are cooking it, you will find that it has similar ‘slimey’ feel similar to okra. There are several ways to cook this vegetable. For example, in Sri Lanka, malabar spinach is often used to make curry.

Is spinach healthier when eaten cooked or raw?

Raw spinach preserves more vitamins and minerals than cooked spinach. Also raw spinach has more volume in a plate, helping to reduce calories in a meal thanks to the satiety effect of this leafy vegetable. Anyway, cooked spinach may result easier to digest, specially when people do not tolerate well raw leafy vegetables. So, the healthier option would be raw spinach but in some cases cooked spinach may be more recommended. Each individual should consult a healthcare practitioner to assess the best option. Usually a combination of raw and cooked spinach in the diet is a good option.

Are Malabar Spinach berries safe to eat?

But you may notice that your Malabar Spinach is also producing lovely, juicy berries that look tasty and may leave you wondering, are these berries safe to eat? The berries from the Malabar Spinach plant are edible and can be eaten raw or cooked. These berries are very juicy and have a lovely lemon flavor with a slight peppery aftertaste.

What is Malabar Spinach?

Malabar spinach, also known by the common names of Ceylon spinach, Indian spinach, vine spinach, and climbing spinach, is a heat-tolerant green with large, succulent leaves that are flavorful both raw and cooked. Its climbing growth habit means it takes up very little room in the garden.