About Madeira Vine
I have Madeira vine growing in my garden. Here in Japan, it is called Okawakame, and it is still relatively uncommon. It is also a very nutritious leafy vegetable.
However, if you plant Madeira vine in your garden, be prepared—it can be very invasive! It grows quickly and spreads easily. You can see the Madeira vine I planted in my garden in the photos. Its leaves are shaped like little hearts, which I find really cute.
The leaves are delicious. The texture and flavor remind me of spinach mixed with alugbati (Malabar spinach). They are slightly slimy, but not as slimy as alugbati.
My son & daughter really loves it, so even though the vine can be invasive, I still keep one in my garden. I just make sure to keep it under control. 😄
This time, I made the leaves into a simple salad.
Ingredients:
- Madeira vine leaves (Okawakame)
- Cucumber
- Onion
- Tomato
- 1/3 cup white vinegar
- 2 tbsp sugar
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- Wash the Madeira vine leaves thoroughly. Cook them in boiling water until slightly tender and the leaves turn a darker green.
- Drain and immediately transfer the leaves to a bowl of ice water. Drain again and set aside.
- Slice the cucumber.
- Cut the tomato into small bite-sized pieces.
5. Slice the onion and place it in a small bowl. Pour hot water over the onion and let it sit for about 15 seconds or longer to blanch. Drain well.
- Place all the vegetables in a bowl and mix gently.
- In a small bowl, combine the white vinegar and sugar. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Pour the dressing over the vegetables and mix well.
- Chill before serving. This salad is best served cold.
They are also delicious sautéed with sesame oil and sesame seeds, with a little soy sauce. It makes a quick and tasty side dish!
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