Cookbook:Fluted Pumpkin
| Fluted Pumpkin | |
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| Category | Vegetables |
Cookbook | Recipes | Ingredients | Equipment | Techniques | Cookbook Disambiguation Pages | Ingredients | Vegetables
Fluted pumpkin, also called fluted gourd, ugu, ugwu, or ikong-ubong[1], is a plant grown primarily for its edible seeds and leaves. Its scientific name is Telfairia occidentalis. The seeds may also be called oyster nut.[2]
Characteristics
[edit | edit source]The plant has dark green lobed leaves[3][4] and large fluted gourds. The gourds are not edible, but they each contain several large seeds.[2][3] The seeds are somewhat rounded and flattened, and once pried open they reveal oil- and protein-rich greenish kernels.[2]
Selection and storage
[edit | edit source]The seeds are best removed from the gourds prior to full maturation.[1] These are said to keep well.[2] The mature gourds also keep well for months at a time.[1] The leaves keep only for a few days in the fridge, like most leafy greens, but they can be frozen.[4]
Use
[edit | edit source]The more tender leaves are typically used in soups and stews (e.g. ofe owerri).[1][3][4][5] These need to be washed and macerated before use.[1] The seeds are first typically boiled or roasted before the kernels are extracted.[1][2] These are then eaten as-is or ground.[1][5] The ground seed may be fermented to make ogiri, which is used as a savory flavor enhancer.[1][2][5]
Recipes
[edit | edit source]References
[edit | edit source]- ↑ a b c d e f g h Akoroda, M. O. (1990). "Ethnobotany of Telfairia occidentalis (Cucurbitaceae) among Igbos of Nigeria". Economic Botany. 44 (1): 29–39. ISSN 0013-0001.
- ↑ a b c d e f Davidson, Alan (2014-01-01). Jaine, Tom (ed.). The Oxford Companion to Food. Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/acref/9780199677337.001.0001. ISBN 978-0-19-967733-7.
- ↑ a b c Features, Amy Grant published in (2021-04-02). "What Is A Fluted Pumpkin – Growing Nigerian Fluted Pumpkin Plants". gardeningknowhow. Retrieved 2024-08-11.
- ↑ a b c "Ugu". www.executivemamaput.com. Retrieved 2024-10-06.
- ↑ a b c Nwokolo, E. (1996), Nwokolo, E.; Smartt, J. (eds.), "Fluted pumpkin (Telfaria occidentalis Hook.)", Food and Feed from Legumes and Oilseeds, Boston, MA: Springer US, pp. 281–289, doi:10.1007/978-1-4613-0433-3_30, ISBN 978-1-4613-0433-3, retrieved 2024-08-11