Davao del Sur : Agbati

malabar spinach (Basella alba) Family: Basellaceae

Vernacular Names: agbati, alagbate, kalagwate, kalagwati

Parts utilized as vegetable and availability: shoots, leaves, vine

Cultivated/Foraged: planted, gathered

Habitat: farm, river, banana plantation, grassland, cool areas, homegarden, garden

Availability: available wet season, June; all year round, February to April (flowering)

Other uses: livelihood, cleansing, laxative

Dishes:law-uy, sautéed, salad, paksiw, tinoon

Law-uy

(Mixed Vegetables Stew)
Brgy. Molo-polo, Kiblawan, Davao del Sur

Ingredients

• 1 cup squash or kalabasa, cubed (Cucurbita moschata)
• 1 pc medium eggplant or talong, cubed (Solanum melongena)
• 1 pc small sponge gourd or sikwa/patola (Luffa cylindrica)
• 3-4 pcs okra, halved with a diagonal cut (Abelmoschus esculentus)
• 1 cup malabar spinach leaves or agbati (Basella alba)
Alternatives:
1 cup Tinangkong sweetpotato tops or talbos ng Tinangkong (Ipomoea batatas var Tinangkong)
1 cup horseradish or malunggay leaves (Moringa oleifera)
• ½ - 1 cup mushrooms or kabute
• 2 pcs medium tomatoes or kamatis, sliced
• 1 pc medium head shallot or sibuyas bombay, chopped
• 1 thumb ginger or luya, crushed
• 1 stalk lemongrass or tanglad, crushed or scored
• Salt

Procedure

1. Fill pot with water and add tanglad, luya and sibuyas bombay. Bring to a boil over medium high heat.
2. Add kalabasa and talong. Bring to a boil and simmer for another 5 minutes.
3. Add the sikwa, kamatis, kabute and okra and cook for about 2-3 minutes, just until limp.
4. Add salt and mix.
5. Turn off heat and add alugbati (or malunggay or Tinangkong) leaves. Stir to mix. The residual heat will be enough to cook the leafy greens.

Law-uy

Ingredients

Talong
Tanglad
Kamatis
Okra
Saluyot
Sitaw
Alugbati

Procedure


Study site: Brgy. Asinan, Matanao, Davao del Sur
Brgy. Savoy, Matanao, Davao del Sur
Brgy. Bagong Negros, Kiblawan, Davao del Sur
Brgy. Molo polo, Kiblawan, Davao del Sur


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