Veggies that American Farmers just throw away
@CaptAlbertWhisker (32694)
Calgary, Alberta
November 15, 2011 8:02pm CST
This is one of the most popular vegetable south east asia and also in Africa, I know that there are sweet potato farmers in the united states. In my country it is sauteed, sometimes its steamed, sometimes its blanched in hot water for salads, It cant be eatenraw but the leaves of sweet potato is one of the most nutritious vegetables in existence but American farmers just throw them away.
other rootcropswith edible leaves are Potato,Yam and Taro.
Taro leaves is eatenby Filipinos,Hawaiians and Samoans. Taro leaves were dried under the sun to kill their allergens, they were boiled in coconut milk with the meat or fish of your choice and it turns into a paste, the paste it turns into dont look pleasant but its delicious.
I think string beans is also popular in United States and The younger leaves of that plant is edible too, they tasted like pea shoots.
there are also some ornamental plants in United states that is actually eaten in some countries.
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On the other hand oregano and basil grows in my country but Filipinos only uses oregano for curing cough and uses Basil as a warm bath for new born babies. I think I'm the only Filipino I know who eats basil and oregano.
2 people like this
12 responses
@GardenGerty (160626)
• United States
16 Nov 11
We use basil and oregano to season a lot of foods, especially those with tomato in them. Oregano is very healthy. I will keep this post in mind and if I grow sweet potatoes I will try sampling their leaves. It really makes sense to me to at least try them. I am not sure I would want to eat potato leaves though. I think the potato needs the leaves to build it up. This is a really good post. I know that there are lots of weeds in our yards that make good greens as well. I know that ornamental peppers can be eaten.
1 person likes this
@CaptAlbertWhisker (32694)
• Calgary, Alberta
16 Nov 11
I know Italian Cuisine so I know how to use Oregano and Basil its really weird that its ignored in my country and its only purpose in my country is to cure cough and basil is used as a bath for new born babies, basically basil is boiled in water, and that water will be used as a warm bath for babies.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (160626)
• United States
16 Nov 11
I use basil more than oregano, but for fun this year I planted an oregano plant. It is beautiful. Sometime in the future I would love to plant fragrant plants by all the walkways so people can smell them as they brush past. I think oregano tastes good even raw. This year I grew cilantro, lemon thyme, parsley, lavender, basil, sage, oregano, mint, and lemon balm. I tend to sample the leaves of all my plants when they are growing.
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@CaptAlbertWhisker (32694)
• Calgary, Alberta
16 Nov 11
Thyme is only a weed in my country, and I think i'm the only Filipino who eat thyme that I know.
In my mom's province,blueberry grows and its ignored. I love trying vegetables I'm not familiar with. No matter how foreign they were.
Unripe Papaya is vegetable in my country, it will remind you of gourd.
In my mom's province,blueberry grows and its ignored. I love trying vegetables I'm not familiar with. No matter how foreign they were.
Unripe Papaya is vegetable in my country, it will remind you of gourd.
@ReverendShaggy (415)
• Philippines
17 Nov 11
Well in general americans say sweet potatoes and that covers yams as well. They are the same to us. They aren't thrown away in the south thats for sure though. Get yourself a fresh hot homemade sweet potato pie with marshmallow topping and yeah boy.
1 person likes this
@CaptAlbertWhisker (32694)
• Calgary, Alberta
17 Nov 11
well they do eat the roots but not the greens, I do know that sweet potato is starting to be popular in the US because of their nutrition but the leaves were still ignored.
@ReverendShaggy (415)
• Philippines
18 Nov 11
Yeah americans ain't about the greens LOL
1 person likes this
@arnoldream (1332)
• Philippines
16 Nov 11
i'm much on vegetables than meat. and this vegetables you are talking about are one of my favorite vegetables for the reason that they are not expensive and can be grown backyard.just curious about oregano, i thought our oregano which we used as herbal med is different from the edible one..are they the same plants?
1 person likes this
@CaptAlbertWhisker (32694)
• Calgary, Alberta
16 Nov 11
well its actually the same, though our local oregano have thicker leaves and doesnt grow flowers but you can still use it for cooking.In fact I use fresh oregano in cooking. Its the same,Spaniards brought oregano in our country for cooking purposes but Filipinos beg to differ, they used it for curing colds and cough.
@CaptAlbertWhisker (32694)
• Calgary, Alberta
16 Nov 11
well raw basil and oregano leaves to grow in our country but only the Filipinos with knowledge in Italian cuisine knows how to use them.
In our country basil is called Balanoy, I think theres oregano everywhere in our country but only few Filipinos used it for culinary purposes.
@jaiho2009 (39141)
• Philippines
16 Nov 11
Wow, they're throwing all the nutrients and vitamins then.
I add basil with my special menu and even with my spaghetti when my mom is at home since she is used to eating Italian pasta, basil, rosemary and other herbs are added.
@CaptAlbertWhisker (32694)
• Calgary, Alberta
16 Nov 11
wow I'm not the only Filipino who uses basil for cooking, yay
My friends are so ignorant about herbs and spices, since you know a lot of Filipinos dont have an open mind.
My friends are so ignorant about herbs and spices, since you know a lot of Filipinos dont have an open mind.
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
16 Nov 11
Well, despite the fact that I haven't been out of bed for that long, I guess I can go to bed for the evening now knowing that my day was complete because I did learn something today. I didn't know that those leaves were edible and now I feel bad about the waste that my country is making.
With that said, you said that oregano is used for curing cough, I simply have to know if that actually works or not.
1 person likes this
@CaptAlbertWhisker (32694)
• Calgary, Alberta
16 Nov 11
well my country is wasting oregano too, it grows everywhere but its not used for cooking.
Cashew is a seed ofa fruit, called cashew apple, I think cashew apple is not eaten in USA too but because it has allergens, some people have immunity from the allergens though.
Cashew is a seed ofa fruit, called cashew apple, I think cashew apple is not eaten in USA too but because it has allergens, some people have immunity from the allergens though.
@urbandekay (18278)
•
16 Nov 11
You should not eat the leaves of the Potato they contain a nerve toxin that can lead to weakness and confusion
all the best urban
@CaptAlbertWhisker (32694)
• Calgary, Alberta
16 Nov 11
sweet potato greens arenot poisonous though, back to potato greens, a meal from mcdonalds is more poisonous than it.
@CaptAlbertWhisker (32694)
• Calgary, Alberta
16 Nov 11
there is a process in some countries to remove the toxin.
@salonga (27775)
• Philippines
16 Nov 11
American farmers throw away sweet potato tops? This is one of my favorite vegetables. We call it here camote tops and indeed this is nutritious. I want it stir fried with spicy bagoong and vinegar paired with fried fish. In fact I know a herbalist who uses just plain camote tops to heal cancer and other diseases.
Oregano and basil I use these spices in cooking pasta. Yes people here in the Filipinos use oregano mostly for curing cough and it is very effective indeed. They hardly know they can use oregano to spice up their cooking.
1 person likes this
@CaptAlbertWhisker (32694)
• Calgary, Alberta
16 Nov 11
Maybe if its though in school, more Filipinos will use it for cooking, do you know hibiscus, orwhat we call gumamela? Its a vegetable in egypt. Bougainvillea the flower, is a salad "green" in some countries.
@Opal26 (17679)
• United States
16 Nov 11
Hi Capt! I love sweet potatoes! They are one of my favorites! And they
are very good for you and taste so good too. I don't know anything about
Taro. I also like pea shoots. We use oregano and basil alot here in the US
for spices. I didn't know that oregano was used for curing coughs. That is
an interesting fact and good to learn. And as for coconut, I love it! I love
the milk and use it for cooking and like the "meat" just for it's taste! Thanks
for this information! I love learning new facts about things that I didn't
know about some of the foods and spices that I already use and things that
I would like to try!
1 person likes this
@CaptAlbertWhisker (32694)
• Calgary, Alberta
16 Nov 11
In europe , they eat something people from both our countries dont eat, Roses, Rose petals can actually be used as salad greens, but dont use roses from flowershopsbecause they were treated with chemicals,use rose that grows in your neighbor's backyard....
Promise I wont tell her.,...
Promise I wont tell her.,...
@marguicha (222855)
• Chile
7 Dec 11
In my country we eat a lot of leaves, sometimes raw, sometimes blanched or steamed. I make pesto with basil, olive oil and garlic to last for the whole year. It helps a lot when I have unexpected guests. I could not cook without oregano so I have my own plant in my garden. I use it fresh but I also dry it and grind it for some dishes.
I suppose many foods are not known in some countries. Some they have and don´t know well how to use them, other veggies have come in recent times. In my country, I don´t remember having seen broccoli when I was little. Yet now it´s a weekly buy in my house.
@SIMPLYD (90722)
• Philippines
16 Nov 11
Actually albert, we can put some basil in some of the pastas we are making. Also, i use the oregano leaves when i am making a red sauce for my spaghetti. I chop them finely and mix it with the sauce , once it's nearly cooked.
Yes, the leaves of the sweet potato is nutritious. We can put it in our "sinigang" or simply blanch it and eat them dipped in lemon juice with a bit of "bagoong" or fish sauce. 
1 person likes this
@CaptAlbertWhisker (32694)
• Calgary, Alberta
16 Nov 11
It seemed like only Philippines is the only Asian country that eats sweet potato leaves, cos the other regions that eats it is in caribean and Africa.,
@jtj_hello (627)
• Philippines
16 Nov 11
Are those leaves really eaten? I know that there is another kind of potato that doesn't grow root crops but the leaves its the most important part since it's the only edible part of it BUt really? sweet potato leaves? Probably it because we have varied tradidton and different dishes and ways of cooking.
1 person likes this
@CaptAlbertWhisker (32694)
• Calgary, Alberta
16 Nov 11
I think some African countries they think cheese is gross, so yes cultural difference is the reason, Yes those leaves where eaten, sweet potatoe leaves is actually nutricious and doesnt cos allergies.
Wait.... your fromthe Phillipines, sweet potato leaves is what we call "Talbos ng kamote" which is used in Sinigang. I guess your family might be using Kangkong in your sinigang.
which is used in Sinigang. I guess your family might be using Kangkong in your sinigang.