Bataw or Lablab is a relative of the purple-hyacinth bean. It is a very versatile bean because you can use it in almost all type of cooking that requires beans. I particularly like to cook it stirfry with pork and shrimp.
It takes a while before the seeds germinate after sowing but when it does grow, it is prolific. You will always have bataw beans for the rest of the summer and beyond. The bees love the purple flowers.
SINGKAMAS- Jicama, Mexican yam, chop suey yam, yam bean. Singkamas or jicama is a very popular summer savory snack in the Philippines.
Papaya (Carica) can be eaten as a fruit or vegetable. If you wait till papaya turns yellow then it can be eaten as a fruit. It is smooth and sweet and have this enzyme papain which is good for digestive functions in your body. The green ones on the other hand can be prepared as…
Beans sprouts from Mung Beans-(Phaseolus aureus) – came from the seeds of the plant we call munggo or”vigna radiata”. These plants have long been cultivated in India, China, Thailand, Philippines and other Asian countries. Japan on the other hand cultivates soy bean sprouts(glycine max) and they call bean sprouts “moyashi”. In the Philippines, beans sprouts…
Ubi or purple yam to me is a reminder of the Holidays in the Philippines. Christmas, Fiesta, and New Years is not complete without making a dessert called “halayang ubi” made of this delectable roots. This dessert can also be used as topping for Halo-halo and can be made into ice-cream. This picture was taken…
Last January I featured Malunggay/Moringa leaves as one of the best green vegetables. This time it is the fruit. Malunggay fruit is green in color about 10 to 12 inches long and about 1/2 to 3/4 inch in diameter. When you open the fruit, it would have three sides with white meat and tender seeds….