pumpkin leaves anyone?

dory · Joined: 11 Nov 2007 Posts: 236 Location: Madison, WI

Hi all,

I just got tempted into buying pumpkin leaves and stems from a Southeast Asian food stall in the market. I have no idea what to do with it. The young woman selling the bundles said that you need to peel the stems, but you can fry the leaves. I have no idea what I am going to do with it. Has anyone cooked pumpkin or squash plants other than the fruits or flowers? If I find something interesting to do I'll let you know.

Dory

Debbie · Joined: 21 Feb 2005 Posts: 861 Location: Paris

Wow! I didn't even know you could eat them Shocked

Will be interested to see what people come up with.
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David · Posted: Tue Jul 07, 2009 3:53 pm Post subject:

Yeah, definitely a new one to me!! This could get interesting! But I'm thinking sliced into strips and stirfried in toasted sesame oil and garlic! (the latest thing I do with almost anything green!)
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simona · Joined: 11 Mar 2005 Posts: 696 Location: israel

Just google " pumpkin leaves recipes" and you'll get some ideas with weird names.
Bon Appetit!?!

No more war, what's wrong with caviar?

dory · Joined: 11 Nov 2007 Posts: 236 Location: Madison, WI

I ended up slicing the pumpkin leaves into strips, and sauteeing them with some onions, a little garlic, and, just at the end, a splash of white balsamic vinegar. They were mild, and, surprisingly, soft in texture. They were like a milder and softer textured spinach or swiss chard. Interestingly, although they shrank, they were much drier than either spinach or chard. I would recommend pumpkin leaves to anyone else who finds them at the farmers market. Now if I could only find fresh lemon verbena, like Clotilde! That is not likely to happen here in Wisconsin-- as many kinds of produce as we find, as I think the closest to us that verbena survives is Georgia.

Dory

David · Posted: Thu Jul 16, 2009 3:25 pm Post subject:

If they are dry when cooked I bet they'd be great in stews or soups as well where they could add flavour and texture and pick up some moisture.
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dory · Joined: 11 Nov 2007 Posts: 236 Location: Madison, WI

I may try that. They are definitely something I would buy again if I see them.

Dory