Unlike its name, Nali Bhaji/Water Spinach does not belong to or is related to the spinach family. Water spinach is a semi-aquatic perennial plant that proliferates in moist/ damp soil mainly around waterbodies/ditches etc and belongs to the Convolvulaceae (Morning Glory) family. It is Native to Asia and thus is easily available in India, Nepal, …
Category: Wild Foods
Wild Foods are the lesser known foods from different regions along with their nutritional content, usage and culinary uses.
Kudachya Shenga: A unique ranbhaji
Kudachya Shenga are long tender beans that grow wild in the forest. Hence called ranbhaji aka wild edible food.
Aakur/Ankur: The Special Edible Fern
Aakur/Ankur is an edible fern that grows in marshy and mangrove areas. In fact, it is considered to be a delicacy in Goa.
Unlocking the secrets of Air Potatoes/Karande
Karande also known as Air Potatoes, vine yam, or bitter yam are true yams that belong to the yam family. They are unique tubers that grow as bulbils on perennial air potato vines.
Gongura Greens: A Forgotten Adaptogen
Ambadi or Gongura is one of the popular local greens in certain cuisines. I first learned about it from a local vendor who asked me to taste these deliciously intriguing sour greens but I learned more about the usage of gongura from my Bengali friends. Gongura is widely used in the Northeast and Andhra Cuisine.
Moras Bhaji: Salty succulent of the Monsoons
Moras Bhaji is a beautiful salty succulent that grows in damp regions like mangroves, dunes, beaches, etc which is available mainly during early monsoons.
Phodshi – A lesser-known unique Ranbhaji
While doing my grocery shopping yesterday, I saw a lady selling something that looked like grass and other vegetables. I got curious and walked up to her to inquire about it. She mentioned that there is a ran bhaji called Phodshi that is only available during the rains and hence is called Devkrupa bhaji because …