How to Cook Moringa Leaves

Moringa Oleifera, commonly known as Drumstick Tree is one of the most cultivated tree in India. you can find a tree or two in almost all households of South India in the backyard. All parts of the tree, mostly the young fruits (Seed pods), leaves and flowers are used in cooking.

This instructable will guide you on how to cook the Moringa leaves to be served as one of the main course.

You can also see my other instructable on how to cook Sambar with Drumstick vegetable at the following link

https://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-Make-Samba...

• If you have a Moringa tree in your backyard, you can always harvest a bunch of fresh leaves. Otherwise buy the green leaves from the Asian markets if available.
• Remove all the stems and collect the green leaves. You can discard the stems or use it to make compost.

• Wash the green leaves in clean water and transfer to a wide mouthed vessel
• Add enough water to cover the leaves and boil till the leaves become tender.
• Drain the water using a strainer and collect the boiled leaves

In the meantime you can also prepare other ingredients required for cooking

• Remove dry skin from two medium sized onions
• Chop them into pieces and keep aside

• Take half a coconut and remove the meat from the shell
• Cut the coconut meat into small pieces
• Using a mixer grinder grate the coconuts pieces. Do not add any water

• Keep a flat bottomed frying pan over medium flame and add a tablespoon of cooking oil
• Break 2 or 3 dried red chilies and add to the heated oil
• Add chopped onions to the pan and stir fry to a golden brown

• Once the onion pieces are fried to a golden brown, add the boiled Moringa leaves to the pan
• Sprinkle salt to taste
• Now add the grated coconut to the pan and mix well

• Stir fry the contents till all moisture evaporates from the dish
• Transfer the cooked Moringa leaves to another container and serve with lunch

The Moringa leaves are the most nutritious part of the tree, being a significant source of many vitamins and other essential nutrients. So add this in your diet regularly to have a very healthy life.