Green: Malabar Spinach - NEW!

Looking for a summer spinach substitute? Try this tropical green (which is actually not spinach). The University of Wisconsin says that this vine should be trellised and “the edible leaves (and shoots) of Basella alba resemble spinach with a mild, slightly peppery flavor with a hint of citrus and are used in the same way. The young leaves can be eaten raw mixed in a green salad, and steamed or boiled to be used like cooked spinach. Because of the mucilagenous nature, it can also be used to thicken soups and stews. The leaves can be eaten throughout the season, but once plants start flowering, the leaves become bitter.”