Indian spinach could be any of a number of greens found across the world. Most likely to be Basella alba, a tropical climbing plant that can grow as high as 2 meters (6 ft), the leaves being harvested as the plant grows and cooked in the same way as spinach or stewed in oil with spices. It is a type of amaranth, which includes many varieties of a sweetish green leafy vegetable known by many different names, including callalloo, elephant’s ear, African/Ceylon/Chinese/Indian spinach, Surinam amaranth, etc.
Spinach is a vegetable with dark green leaves. Young spinach may be used in salads, and all spinach can be washed and then cooked rapidly in the remnants of the water in which it was washed. Don't be tempted to add any additional water. It is good finished with butter, cream and lots of black pepper.
Indian spinach. This is most likely to be Basella alba, a tropical climbing plant that can grow as high as 2 meters (6 ft), the leaves being harvested as the plant grows and cooked in the same way as spinach or stewed in oil with spices. It is a type of amaranth, which includes many varieties of a sweetish green leafy vegetable known by many different names, including callalloo, elephant’s ear, African/Ceylon/ Chinese/Indian spinach, Surinam amaranth, etc.
Prickly pear. The delicious but risky fruit of a cactus. The sweet, juicy flesh ripens from green to a deep apricot-pink colour. It is sensible to use leather gloves when dealing with these fruit as they are covered in fine, penetrating prickles. They are normally eaten raw but can be cooked, with the edible seeds becoming hard with cooking.
Callaloo. A generic name given to large green leafy tops of the taro and malanga families of edible tubers which include dasheen, eddo and tannia or coco yam as well as callalloo, elephant’s ear, African/Chinese/Indian spinach, Surinam amaranth, etc., any of which may be used in a West Indian soup called callaloo. It is treated in the same way as spinach, while in Africa it is made into a soup with milk, okra, salt pork, spices and coconut milk. It is often stewed in oil with spices.
Strawberry Blite. A small, red, mulberry-like fruit, this grows on sprawling plants which are primarily grown as greens for salads or used as a herb, though should not be used in quantity. The leaves may also be cooked like spinach but, again, in moderation. The pleasantly sweet but essentially bland berries are small, pulpy and bright red, resembling strawberries. They provide an interesting accent to salads. The is plant prefers cool weather and damp mountain valleys but will tolerate heat. Native Americans used to use it as a dye.
Strawberry Blite. A small, red, mulberry-like fruit, this grows on sprawling plants which are primarily grown as greens for salads or used as a herb, though should not be used in quantity. The leaves may also be cooked like spinach but, again, in moderation. The pleasantly sweet but essentially bland berries are small, pulpy and bright red, resembling strawberries. They provide an interesting accent to salads. The is plant prefers cool weather and damp mountain valleys but will tolerate heat. Native Americans used to use it as a dye.
Strawberry Blite. A small, red, mulberry-like fruit, this grows on sprawling plants which are primarily grown as greens for salads or used as a herb, though should not be used in quantity. The leaves may also be cooked like spinach but, again, in moderation. The pleasantly sweet but essentially bland berries are small, pulpy and bright red, resembling strawberries. They provide an interesting accent to salads. The is plant prefers cool weather and damp mountain valleys but will tolerate heat. Native Americans used to use it as a dye.
