Water Spinach / Kangkung

Also known asKangkung · Kangkong · Morning Glory · Ong Choy · Swamp Cabbage · Water Convolvulus · Ipomoea aquatica · 空心菜

Name: Water spinach, also called kangkung, ong choy, water morning glory or swamp cabbage (Ipomoea aquatica) — a trailing, semi-aquatic vine with long, arrow-shaped leaves and hollow stems, with a mild, slightly sweet flavour and a crisp stem. It is not a true spinach.

Description

Water spinach is native to tropical Asia, and is one of the most commonly eaten leafy vegetables in Southeast Asia and southern China, where it is grown in ponds and flooded fields. It is a staple in Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam and the Philippines, where it is prized for being fast-growing and cheap.

A classic dish is stir-fried kangkung with belacan (shrimp paste) and chilli, and in Cantonese cooking, it is stir-fried with garlic or fermented bean curd. Water spinach is classified as a noxious weed in some places, such as parts of the United States, where it can spread quickly in waterways.

Main nutrition value

Water spinach provides vitamin A, vitamin C, iron, calcium and fibre, for very few calories.

How best to be consumed

Water spinach cooks very quickly, in a hot, quick stir-fry.

1. Stir-fry over high heat with garlic and chilli, or with shrimp paste, for a minute or two.
2. Cook with fermented bean curd, as in Cantonese cooking.
3. Add to soups and noodle dishes at the end.
4. Cut the hollow stems into lengths, cooking them first, then add the leaves.
5. Wash well, since it often grows in water, and cook thoroughly.

Overconsumption could cause…

Water spinach is safe when well cooked and cleaned.

1. Parasites and bacteria from raw water spinach grown in contaminated water, which is why it should be washed well and cooked thoroughly.
2. Oxalates, which matter for people prone to kidney stones when eaten in very large amounts, and which reduce the absorption of calcium and iron from the leaves.
3. Pesticide or heavy metal contamination if grown in polluted water.
4. Salt and shrimp paste in classic recipes.

GroupsLeafy Green VegetablesMorning glory family (Convolvulaceae)Southeast AsianFresh

Related foodsSweet Potato LeavesAmaranth Greens / BayamBaby Bok ChoyBaby SpinachBeet GreensBok Choy / Pak Choy

Wikipedia — Ipomoea aquatica, used for origin, naming and history: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ipomoea_aquatica