English common names include moringa, and drumstick tree, from the appearance of the long, slender, triangular seed pods, horseradish tree, from the taste of the roots which resembles horseradish, or ben oil tree, from the oil derived from the seeds.
The tree itself is rather slender, with drooping branches that grow to approximately 10m in height. In cultivation, it is often cut back annually to 1–2 meters and allowed to regrow so the pods and leaves remain within arm's reach.[1][2]
In developing countries, moringa has potential to improve nutrition, boost food security, foster rural development, and support sustainable landcare.[3] It may be used as forage for livestock, a micronutrient liquid, a natural anthelmintic and possible adjuvant.[2][4][5]
Born, brought up and educated in Madras (now renamed Chennai) in Tamil Nadu in India, the drum stick was part of our regular weekly diet. Drum Stick or Moringa as it is know in the west is from a tree found almost in every house with a bit of land in Madras. It is a hardy plant or should I say tree as can be seen from the picture above
The Moringa plant leaves are cooked same as spinach either with fresh grated coconut or with lentils. Interested in a genuine South Indian Recipe ? Ofcourse but later.
The Moringa plant leaves are cooked same as spinach either with fresh grated coconut or with lentils. Interested in a genuine South Indian Recipe ? Ofcourse but later.
You hold the stem at the top end and pull with your other hand cupped around the leaves and the leaves just peel off ready to be washed and cooked, almost like the Curry leaves except the Moringa leaves are lot smaller
Moringa leaves are so full of natural goodness that lactating women are made to eat moringa leaves and moringa as a vegetable often while breast feeding babies.
Moringa or Drum Sticks as we call them in India is the vegetable or shall we say the bean containing marrow and seeds. The outer skin is hard and fibrous and cannot be eaten but chewed to extract the delicious juices. Drum stick is chopped into say two inch long sections and added to make delicious meat and fish curries. Meat curry with moringa used to be a Sunday treat for the entire family, as the family ate meat once a week.
During the week Murungaikai as we call it in Tamil ( Kai meaning vegetable) is often cooked with Thoor Dhal in a dish we call Sambar ( not the Sambal from Malaysia)
During the week Murungaikai as we call it in Tamil ( Kai meaning vegetable) is often cooked with Thoor Dhal in a dish we call Sambar ( not the Sambal from Malaysia)
The Flower of the Moringa Tree, which looks like a Jasmine bud is also eaten in states like Kerala on the west coast of India. I am told an Indian scrambled egg with fried onions Moringa Flowers and chopped chillies with beaten eggs is yummy.
Perhaps in Tamil Nadu they do not eat the flowers as this reduces the yield of the tree in terms of Moringaikai or Drum stick
As kids most of us hated vegetables such as Moringa, Okkra or Ladies Finger, Long or Snake Beans, Kolarabi, Bitter Melon etc and it is amazing as to how much we love the very same vegetables four decades later and don't hesitate to pay as much as $ 6 to $ 9 a kilo in Sydney.
Perhaps in Tamil Nadu they do not eat the flowers as this reduces the yield of the tree in terms of Moringaikai or Drum stick
As kids most of us hated vegetables such as Moringa, Okkra or Ladies Finger, Long or Snake Beans, Kolarabi, Bitter Melon etc and it is amazing as to how much we love the very same vegetables four decades later and don't hesitate to pay as much as $ 6 to $ 9 a kilo in Sydney.
