Alogbati or Alugbati


I didn't even know what alogbati is in English until someone from Hawaii e-mailed me that it's Malabar spinach. I have seen it in catalogs before (touted to be one of those designer vegetables) and the English name sounds very much like "alogbati." There are many varieties and the one that is most common in my mother's garden has red stems and small fleshy fruits the juice of which can be used as red dye. It's probably a member of the spinach family, it does look like spinach although its leaves and stems are more succulent than spinach. It's a little bit slimy when cooked, just like okra.

It's probably good in salads, but I know that is good with ginisang monggo (sauteed mung beans) and also in itself good sauteed.

Alogbati growing in Mt. Holyoke College in Massachusetts

The plant is probably native to Africa and Southeast Asia. In the Philippines, it is usually planted as a vegetable but may also be cultivated as an ornamental plant. It can be propagated by stem cuttings.

Information about alogbati

Recipes


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