Contrary to what its name suggests, Malabar spinach is a variety of leafy vegetable that is normally grown outside of the States.

Malabar spinach has a significantly different flavor and appearance from the spinach we are accustomed to.

Malabar spinach has a distinct mild peppery flavor with undertones of lemon when consumed fresh, but it takes on a typical spinach flavor when cooked.

Its leaves are bigger and its stems are thicker than traditional spinach.

Also, when cooked it can have a slimy texture to it, similar to cooked okra. Growing up in our Asian household my parents would typically make a soup out of this.

Malabar spinach is super nutritious as it is packed with vitamins A and C, iron and calcium.

You can typically find Malabar spinach in Asian grocery stores.

It is a wonderful vegetable to use in cooking and can give a splash of color to any meal.

Let’s have a look at some of the best Malabar spinach recipes:

Best Malabar Spinach Recipes

1. Vietnamese Malabar Spinach Soup

Malabar spinach is popularly used to make a traditional Vietnamese soup (called canh mong toi) that is both light and flavorful. 

In this recipe for Malabar spinach, the ground beef is first seasoned and sautéed, and then water and additional seasonings are added to make a soup foundation.

The fish sauce must be used in this recipe to season the meat and stock, as it is in most Vietnamese recipes.

To keep the Vietnamese-inspired supper theme going, serve with aromatic steamed rice and a side of eggrolls or spring rolls.

2. Stir-Fried Malabar Spinach

The next recipe is another favorite recipe of ours.

When combined with a rich sauce, Malabar spinach is frequently used as a go-to side dish in many Asian households.

Malabar spinach is cooked in a stir-fry together with garlic, chili peppers, Shaoxing wine, and ground shrimp paste in this delicious meal.

If you find your sauce too thin, thicken it with some cornstarch slurry. Serve with steamed white rice.

3. Malabar Spinach and Chan Choy Tong Soup

You have to check out this quick and simple recipe for Malabar spinach and Chan Choy Tong soup, where you prepare this refreshing and nourishing bowl of soup in the Malaysian Chinese way.

It’s a quick-boil dish, so you won’t have to wait half a day to taste the delectable soup, making it ideal for people who are busy after a hard day at work.

The salted duck egg and ground pork used in the soup base give it a highly tasty and addicting base.

For a warm and filling lunch, serve it with some steamed rice!

Final Words

Malabar spinach is a healthy, leafy vegetable that may be eaten raw in a salad or cooked and added to soups, stir-fries, and curries.

You should try incorporating this gorgeous veggie into your next meal with these best Malabar spinach recipes because of its great nutritional content and taste.

Best Malabar Spinach Recipes

Print Recipe

Check out these great Malabar Spinach Recipes that have been tested and approved by us!

• Author: Recipe Marker
• Prep Time: 5 minutes
• Cook Time: 10 minutes
• Total Time: 15 minutes
• Yield: 1 serving
• Category: Recipe
• Method: Cooking
• Cuisine: Recipe

Ingredients

1. Vietnamese Malabar Spinach Soup
2. Vietnamese Malabar Spinach Stir-fry
3. Malaysian Chinese Malabar Spinach Chan Choy Tong Soup

Cook Mode Prevent your screen from going dark

Instructions

1. Click on each link above to view the pin and recipe.
2. Obtain all the necessary ingredients to make the recipe.
3. Follow the steps to create your dish.
4. Enjoy your delicious meal =)

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 1 serving
• Calories: 10
• Sugar: 0 g
• Sodium: 24.2 mg
• Fat: 0.34 g
• Saturated Fat: 0 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 0 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 1.19 g
• Fiber: 0.92 g
• Protein: 1.31 g
• Cholesterol: 0 mg