Food,Culture & Everything

I cannot just find an appropriate English translation for ‘Tinolang Isda’ in English this is roughly fish soup, but there is more to Tinolang Isda than just a soup. This is my family’s comfort food, this is my most requested ‘sud-an’ (viand), whenever we’re all at home and especially when it’s raining, and it’s a sweep.

Other than those, it’s economical as we just grow the maluggay at our backyard and it’s the healthiest leaf ever your family can have especially growing children.

So here’s my version of my simple fish soup in malunggay (moringa olifera)

What you need:
5 stalks Malungay
Regular size maya-maya
1 regular size tomato
Thumbsize ginger, chopped
1 regular size onion, chopped
2 stalks of spring onion
1 stalk tanglad (lemongrass)
SVP

What to do:
Boil tomato, onion, and ginger, salt to taste in 5 cups water;
When it boils, slowly put in the fish and simmer in low fire to avoid the fish from bursting; wait till the tomato all burst that you can taste its omaminess;
Drop in the lemongrass and spring onion;
Turn-off fire and put-in the Malunggay, cover let the steam cook the malunggay,

Serve immediately, and now here it is …….

Health Benefits of Malunggay (Moringa oleifera)

Several studies have shown Moringa’s health benefits.

It is a strong antioxidant effective against prostate and skin cancers, an anti-tumor and an anti-aging substance.

• It modulates anemia, high blood pressure, diabetes, high serum or blood cholesterol, thyroid, liver, and kidney problems.
• It has strong anti-inflammatory properties ameliorating rheumatism, joint pain, arthritis, edema, and Lupus.
• It is effective against digestive disorders including colitis, diarrhea, flatulence (gas), ulcer or gastritis.
• As an anti-bacterial, anti-microbial, and anti-viral agent, it is affective against urinary tract infection, typhoid, syphilis, dental caries and toothaches, fungus, thrush, common cold, Epstein-Barr Virus, Herpes-Simplex, HIV AIDS, warts, parasites, worms, schistosomes, and trypanosomes.
• As a detoxifying agent, it is effective against snake and scorpion bites.
• It is effective against nervous disorders including headaches, migraines, hysteria, and epilepsy.

Nutritional Benefits:

Leaves, tender young capsules, immature seeds, fruits, and roots are all edible. Leaves can be eaten cooked or raw, are rich in vitamins K, A, C, B6, Manganese, Magnesium, Riboflavin, Calcium, Thiamin, Potassium, Iron, Protein, Niacin, and dietary fiber. Leaves can be dried (in the shade to preserve nutrients), reduced into powder and added to foods. Cooked Moringa leaves resemble spinach in flavour and appearance. In developing countries where rice is the staple diet, and where vitamin A deficiency is prevalent, Moringa provides an affordable and widely available source of the vitamin. One cup of boiled leaves contains 7,013 International Units (IUs) of vitamin A – more than 2.5 times the daily adult requirement for the vitamin.
Immature seeds can be eaten like garden peas. Young pods taste like a cross between green beans and asparagus.

Young roots can be used as spice but care must be taken because of its alkaloid content. Flowers are mixed with other foods, or fried in butter or oil. Note: The leaves and branches are also used by farmers for fodder when nothing else is available.

References
Fahey JW “Moringa oleifera: A Review of the Medical Evidence for its nutritional, therapeutic, and prophylactic properties. Part 1 ” Trees for Life Journal 2005;1:15
Moog FA “Country Pastures/Forage Resources Profiles, Philippines” Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations May/June 2005

Trackback URI | Comments RSS