Malabar Spinach is popular in Indian, Southeast Asian, and African dishes. It can be used raw or cooked, and the texture becomes soft and silky when heated. Here are some ways to use it:
- Stir-fried with garlic, chilli, or soy sauce
- Cooked in coconut milk with curry spices
- Added to soups, stews, or dhal
- Mixed into omelettes or scrambled eggs
- Chopped fresh into salads or wraps
Both the leaves and shoots of Malabar Spinach are edible, and have a mild, slightly peppery flavour. The young leaves can be eaten raw in salads or used similarly to spinach — boiled, steamed, stir-fried, or added to soups, curries, and tofu dishes.
Because the leaves have a mucilaginous texture (slightly slippery, like okra), they are often used as a natural thickener in soups and stews. This makes them especially useful in warm-climate cooking where hydration and gut-friendly food are important.
Malabar Spinach is used in a wide variety of cuisines around the world: in Indian curries and dahl, crispy fritters, Malaysian soups, Guyanese sautéed greens, and Nigerian stews. The red-stemmed variety may lose much of its bright colour when cooked, so it’s often preferred for raw dishes or lightly sautéed meals to keep its visual appeal.
Easy Recipes with Ceylon Spinach
🌿 Garlic Stir-Fried Malabar Spinach
- 2 cups fresh Ceylon spinach leaves
- 2 cloves garlic, chopped
- 1 tablespoon oil
- 1 tsp soy sauce
Heat oil in a pan, add garlic and stir until golden. Add spinach and cook for 2–3 minutes. Add soy sauce, stir and serve hot. Also great with tofu or rice.
🥥 Coconut Malabar Spinach Curry
- 2 cups chopped spinach leaves and tips
- 1/2 chopped onion
- 1 cup coconut milk
- 1 tsp curry powder
- Salt to taste
Sauté onions in oil until soft. Add curry powder and spinach. Stir well. Pour in coconut milk and simmer for 10 minutes. Serve with rice or flatbread. This style is similar to Sri Lankan or Malaysian curry preparations.
🍲 Indian-Style Dahl with Malabar Spinach
- 1 cup yellow lentils (moong or toor dal)
- 2 cups chopped Malabar spinach leaves
- 1 small tomato, diced
- 1/2 tsp turmeric
- Salt to taste
Cook lentils with turmeric and salt until soft. Add chopped spinach and simmer for 10 more minutes. Season with a garlic and mustard seed tempering if desired. A warming, nutritious dish served with rice.
🇬🇾 Guyanese Sautéed Malabar Spinach
- 2 cups Malabar spinach (chopped)
- 1/2 onion, sliced
- 1 tomato, diced
- 2 cloves garlic
- Salt and pepper to taste
Sauté onions, garlic, and tomato in oil. Add spinach and cook until tender. A quick and simple Caribbean-style side dish often served with rice or fish.
🇳🇬 Nigerian Malabar Spinach Stew
- 2 cups Malabar spinach
- 1/2 cup tomato purée
- 1 small onion, chopped
- Chilli, oil, and seasoning to taste
Fry onion and tomato purée in oil. Add spices and chilli. Stir in chopped spinach and simmer until tender. Great with yam, rice, or flatbread.
What Are the Health Benefits of Ceylon Spinach?
Ceylon Spinach is packed with nutrition and is very hydrating. Here are some of the main health benefits:
- Rich in vitamins: Contains Vitamin A, Vitamin C, and Iron
- Supports digestion: The natural mucilage (slippery texture) can soothe the gut
- Hydrating: High water content helps keep you cool and refreshed
- Good for immunity: Antioxidants help fight illness
- Low calorie: Great for healthy weight management
It’s especially useful in summer when your body needs extra hydration and nutrients.
Start Growing Ceylon Spinach Today!
Buy Ceylon Spinach Seeds and enjoy a delicious, decorative leafy green perfect for warm Australian gardens. Have more questions about this versatile, tropical vegetable? Head to our ‘FAQs for Ceylon (Malabar) Spinach’
