Month: January 2016

Jicama/Singkamas

Jicama – Singkamas (Pachyrhizus erosus) also called Mexican yam  or yam bean is native to the Americas.  It grows in a vine and flowers that produces beans that can also be eaten when young but not when it is mature because it contains a poison called rotenone so are the leaves and the vines.  But…

Buko/Young Coconut

Young coconut or “buko” as we call it in the Philippines is gaining popularity nowadays. It might as well be because researches are always coming up with good news about it, how it is good for you.  The list of nutritional benefits goes on and on. I’m happy that I grow up enjoying young coconuts. …

Malunggay/Moringa

Malunggay/ moringa (Moringa Oleifera) is also known as horseradish tree because the roots taste just like horseradish.  It is also called drumstick tree because the fruit or bean pod is long.  The fruit is segmented in a triangle and has lot of seeds inside.  In the Philippines, we used the fruit or beans as vegetable. …

Ampalaya/Bittermelon with Beef Recipe

Beef with Bittermelon is the most popular way of using bittermelon, bitter gourd/ampalaya. Not many people like to eat this vegetable because of its bitter taste.  We can say its an acquired taste.  But this days, researchers are finding the healthful benefits of bittermelon. Bittermelon (Momodica charantia) contains phyto-chemical compounds which are known to lower…

Water Chestnuts/Apulid

Water Chestnuts/Apulid (Eleocharis dulcis) is one of my favorite ingredients in cooking stir fry dishes.  A mix of vegetables like snow peas, ginger, green bell peppers, carrots, celery with sesame oil will go well with water chestnuts.  This mix  we call chop suey can be used to top noodles or rice. Water chestnuts or apulid,…

Kamias

  Kamias – Averrhoa bilimbi – also known as cucumber tree or tree sorrel is a very common fruit in the Philippines used as a condiment.  It is a fruit but it is so sour it is used mostly for cooking.  The kamias is like the tamarind, used in making sour-soup or sinigang. We used…