Malabar or Indian spinach might have been native to India or asia but
'Efo amunututu' as it is fondly called in some part in nigeria, is known as 'Indian spinach' or 'malabar spinach'.
The yoruba culture of Nigeria named it 'efo amunututu'. 'Efo' means vegetable while 'Amunututu' means one that calm or cools the stomach.
The name is evident from the vegetable itself, after eating there is a calm feeling within one's tummy, feel relaxed and cool as if one has drank a cold water. thats the kind of veggies malabar spinach is.
I did not grow this veggie in my garden, I've been looking for it for a while before i found it, i also took some seeds to plant in my own garden.
This kind of vegetable is a unique one that people of my tribe don't joke with.
Infact some can go as far as eating it thrice in a day, in anyway its being prepared.
Inidia spinach grows on a wet soil, and its widely seen in areas where water logged.
The plant spread out, and does spread across trees, building or anything close to where its been planted, travelled some inches or meters with a reddish purple seeds and stems that make it look quite attractive
Malabar spinach is a kind of succulent and juicy vegetable that can be eaten anytime, raw,cooked or slightly cooked
- Its a common and Favorite vegetable in Nigerian homes, especially with yoruba ethnic group, it can be used as a recipe or combined with other recipe, while it can also be steamed with other spicy sauces.
Even though i grew up knowing this vegetable, my grandparents would say they did derived some benefits from eating malabar health wise, just like the other green veggies, He would say it does help strengthen their eyes.