If you’re looking to add a unique and nutritious vegetable to your diet, look no further than ponnanganni keerai (also known as English water spinach).
This leafy green is easy to incorporate into your meals, and with the right ingredients can add a burst of flavor and vitamins. Read on for helpful tips on sourcing and cooking with ponnanganni keerai. Also, you find the easy ways to incorporate Ponnanganni Keerai into your diet here.
Learn about Ponnanganni Keerai and its Benefits
Before you start to cook with ponnanganni keerai, take a moment to learn about this leafy green and the nutrition it can bring to your meals. Ponnanganni keerai is known for its high iron content, which helps fight fatigue and anemia. It also contains Vitamin A, which aids in vision and skin health, as well as other vitamins such as B-complex vitamins. With all of these nutritional benefits, ponnanganni keerai can give your meals a boost!
Decide How You Want to Use it in Your Meals
When deciding how you want to cook with ponnanganni keerai, you should consider what type of dish you are making. The leaves are often blanched or steamed and added to dishes like soups and curries. It pairs well with other vegetables, adding a unique flavor and texture. If you are looking for something more substantial, it can also be sautéed in oil or butter with herbs and spices. Finally, if you’re looking for a crunchy addition to salads, ponnanganni keerai can be lightly fried and used as a topping.
Consider Incorporating it into Soups and Stews
Incorporating ponnanganni keerai into soups or stews is one of the easiest and tastiest ways to add it to your diet. For example, you can simply blanch the leaves in boiling water for a few minutes and add them to your favorite soup or stew. The leaves will become more tender after a few minutes which helps bring out the flavor and nutrition of this amazing vegetable. Additionally, you can add other vegetables along with some herbs or spices like cilantro, chili powder and garlic to kick up the flavor!
Create Delicious Salads with the Veggie
Ponnanganni keerai is extremely versatile in that it can be cooked or eaten raw. For those who prefer not to blanch the vegetable, salads are a great way to incorporate it into your diet. Simply wash the leaves and then add them to your favorite salad ingredients as a delicious addition. You can also create a classic South Indian salad by mixing the leaves together with tomato, onion, and green chilli pepper. Adding some freshly grated coconut and a few pinches of salt will take the flavors up a notch. Enjoy!
Blend Up a Smoothie for a Quick, Nutritious Meal
Cold smoothies are an easy way to incorporate ponnanganni keerai into your diet. You can blend it with fruits such as banana and mango, as well as other leafy greens like spinach or kale. Add yogurt for a creamy texture, or some pineapple for a sweet twist. Your smoothie will be packed with vitamins and minerals that make it a delicious and nutritious treat.
