Malabar spinach (Basella spp.)
Common Names
Malabar spinach, Ceylon spinach, vine spinach (En); baselle, brède de Malabar (Fr); espinaca blanca, espinaca de Malabar (Sp); 落葵 (Cn)
Plant Distribution
Pantropical, naturalized in neotropics
Edible Parts
Leaves and tender stems are eaten as salad, boiled, stewed or stir-fried, or in soups.
Health Values
Beta-carotene: high; vitamin E: medium; riboflavin: medium; folic acid: high; ascorbic acid: extremely high; calcium: medium; iron: medium; protein: 3.5%. Leaves contain mucilage.
Read more: Malabar spinach, in Discovering Indigenous Treasures: Promising Indigenous Vegetables from Around the World. 2009. AVRDC – The World Vegetable Center.