Spinach Herbs: Spinach, Malabar Spinach, Mustard Spinach and New Zealand Spinach

By Roby Jose Ciju

This small book is about 'Spinach Herbs' and it deals with mainly four types of edible herbaceous plants; these are Spinach (Spinacia oleracea), Malabar Spinach (Basella spp.), New Zealand Spinach (Tetragonia tetragonioides) and Mustard Spinach(Brassica rapa perviridis). Food value and nutritive value of spinach herbs are very high. There are very few vegetable greens which equal the nutritive value of spinach herbs. Spinach herbs are highly nutritious salad greens and can also be cooked as delicious, nutritious leafy vegetables. Description of growing practices, nutrient data, health benefits, and food uses of the spinach herbs is given in detail in this small book.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Agrihortico
• Release date: Mar 17, 2021
• ISBN: 9781393356103

Book preview

SPINACH HERBS

Spinach, Malabar Spinach, Mustard Spinach, and New Zealand Spinach

ROBY JOSE CIJU

Copyright © 2019 AGRIHORTICO

All rights reserved.

https://www.agrihortico.com

DEDICATION

This book is dedicated to all those who love nature and plants, who love healthy living and gardening, and also to the growers of all kinds of plants…

Spinach Herbs: An Introduction

This small book about ‘Spinach Herbs’ deals with mainly four types of edible herbaceous plants; these are Spinach (Spinacia oleracea), Malabar Spinach (Basella spp.), New Zealand Spinach (Tetragonia tetragonioides) and Mustard Spinach(Brassica rapa perviridis).

As a reader you might have observed that all these herbs are known as one or the other type of spinach. However, ‘true spinach’ is Spinach (Spinacia oleracea). It is also known as ‘English Spinach’. Other spinach herbs are similar to true spinach in growth habit and edible properties and hence known as different spinach herbs.

All spinach herbs are easy to grow and suitable for growing both in the open fields and in containers. They are propagated by seeds and/or stem cuttings. All these herbs are by nature short-lived, herbaceous perennial plants but grown as annuals for vegetable purposes.

Food value and nutritive value of spinach herbs are very high. There are very few vegetable greens which equal the nutritive value of spinach herbs. Spinach herbs are highly nutritious salad greens and can also be cooked as delicious, nutritious leafy vegetables.

Description of growing practices, nutrient data, health benefits, and food uses of the spinach herbs is given in detail in this small book.

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Figure 1: Spinach Plant

English Spinach, the Spinach Greens

Spinach is a very popular leafy vegetable in many parts of the world. Scientific name of spinach is Spinacia oleracea and it belongs to the family Chenopodiaceae. Spinach is also known by the names ‘true spinach’ and ‘English spinach’. Spinach is believed to be originated in South-West Asia

Taxonomy (source: USDA Plant Database)

Botanical Description: Leaves of spinach plants are bright green in colour and oblong shaped. Leaves are usually wider than long. Flowering time is spring-fall season. Spinach plants produce tiny, spiny or prickly seeds which are generally used for propagation purposes.

Food Uses of Spinach: Spinach is mainly grown for its edible leaves which are considered as one of the highly nutritious leafy vegetables that are available today for human consumption. Food value and nutritive value of spinach greens are very high and there are very few vegetable greens which equal the nutritive value of spinach greens. These are the excellent source of dietary fiber, antioxidant vitamins and minerals. The tender and succulent leaves of spinach are used in salad preparations, soups and omelettes. Ripe spinach greens may be cooked as a main vegetable dish or may be used as a side ingredient along with other vegetables. Over-consumption of spinach greens must be avoided due to the presence of oxalates in the leaves.

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Figure 2: Spinach with Eggs and Potatoes

A wide range of food dishes can be prepared from spinach greens. A list of spinach vegetable preparations is given below:

Food Preparation 1: Spinach and Cottage Cheese

Main ingredients needed to prepare this food dish are: Clean, chopped fresh spinach leaves; cottage cheese cubes; chopped onions, green chillies, ginger and garlic; one pinch of turmeric powder, salt to taste and cooking oil. Now, steam the chopped spinach leaves in a small vessel/steamer for a few minutes. When steaming is done, spread the steamed leaves on a pan and cool it thoroughly before mashing it in a mixer into a thick pulp. This pulp is used as the base for the spinach-cottage cheese preparation. Next, take a deep pan and pour cooking oil. Add chopped onions, chillies, garlic and ginger into the hot oil and fry it until a golden brown colour is obtained. Now, add turmeric powder and the thick pulp along with some boiled water to get the right consistency of the dish. When mashed pulp is boiled, add cubes of cottage cheese into it and cook for a while. Add salt to taste and serve.

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Figure 3: Spinach Pizza

Food Preparation 2: Mashed Spinach and Corn Sandwiches 

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