Learn more about unconventional food plants and learn a recipe for sauteed sweet potato leaves
Are you vegan, vegetarian or just love eating fresh vegetables? Find out how to create a small vegetable garden near the window of your house or apartment in a simple pot and still decorate the space. The secret of all this versatility is in the calls” unconventional food plants“or simply, PANC.
What are PANCs?
PANC can be native to Brazil and the Brazilian regions, exotic or naturalized, whose leaves, roots, flowers or stems are edible, but which – still – are not common in human consumption. The term PANC was coined in 2008 by biologist and professor Valdely Ferreira Kinupp in his doctoral thesis.
The professor of the Nutrition course at the IBMR University Center, Renata Polinati, explains that, normally, PANCs are everywhere. “You can take seedlings and seeds from the street and grow them at home, without any problems. You can also buy these vegetables in urban gardens or organic markets,” she indicates.
Renata claims that everyone can plant PANC at home or in their apartment. “Many plants are pot-friendly and can tolerate more shade or a lot of sun. Many are also ornamental, so you can have a plant that is edible and beautiful at the same time,” she explains.
Plant Pancs at home
One of the easiest ways to have a PANC in your home is to plant one small sweet potato root. Plant this root in a pot of proportional size to it. But don’t forget to place some gravel at the bottom of the pot to facilitate drainage. Then cover it with soil – it can be vegetable soil, purchased in flower shops – and water it a couple of times a week. Place a saucer underneath to prevent water from getting onto the furniture. In a few days the shoots appear as if they were a small vine. Decorate the house, yes. And the best thing is that the leaves can be harvested and stir-fried for consumption.
Renata suggests that farmers in the “stone jungle” do an Internet search to locate suppliers of PANC seedlings. She also estimates that the arrival of PANCs on the market largely depends on the relationship between demand and farmer. “The more people who know about and want to buy a PANC, the more interest there is in selling it,” she explains. The teacher has a beautiful ora-pro-nobis tree in her house, another PANC to which a festival is already dedicated in Sabará, a historic city located in the Metropolitan Region of Belo Horizonte (MG).
Don’t eat street plants
Many plants that grow alone in squares, sidewalks, gardens and vegetable patches are not edible. Others should preferably be cooked, just as many fruits need to be deseeded. “It is important to pay attention to how each plant is prepared. Many PANC are edible only after adequate preparation,” warns Renata Polinati.
But if you are more eager to identify a PANC in circulation, it is possible to identify it by taking a photo of it to send to a specialized biologist or nutritionist for evaluation. Or you can search for catalogs that contain photos – and not just descriptions – on specialized search sites.
The teacher suggests another way to identify these vegetables. “There are several groups on social media that help identify species. Take beautiful photos, describe the plant and the environment in which you found it and post it to receive help from the group”, teaches Renata.
Recipe: Learn how to make sautéed sweet potato leaves
Ingredients:
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 cloves garlic, thinly sliced
- 1 deep plate filled with thin-stemmed sweet potato stalks
- Pinch of salt
Way of doing:
Heat a pan well. Add olive oil and garlic, mix well. When the garlic begins to smell and turn golden, add the sweet potato leaves. Mix well and season with salt.
If you want broth, add a little water, sauté a little longer until the leaves are soft, but still bright green. Serve as an accompaniment to a main course.
Source: Terra
Ben Stock is a lifestyle journalist and author at Gossipify. He writes about topics such as health, wellness, travel, food and home decor. He provides practical advice and inspiration to improve well-being, keeps readers up to date with latest lifestyle news and trends, known for his engaging writing style, in-depth analysis and unique perspectives.
