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Chinese okra
Every knowledge on vegetables, health and nutrition.
Scientific Name
Cucurbita maxima (Cucurbitaceae family)Common name
Taiwanese okra, Angled Loopah, Luffa
Varieties
Chinese okra is a robust plant that produces medium-sized fruit. Its smooth skin is brick red and its dark yellow flesh has a strong chestnut flavour.
Vegetable garden: growing Chinese okra
From the Cucurbitaceae family, Chinese okra is a "crawler", with creeping stems that grow up to 2.5 to 3 metres long and carry large numbers of fruit, 2 to 3 kg, in the form of “loophas”.
The skin is generally a bright red to pink colour, and sometimes green or bronze.
It likes deep soils rich in manure and full sunshine.
Sowing is between April and May, with harvesting in September and October.
Consumption
Around available from September to March, with a peak in production in November.
Nutritional values per 100 g
Raw* | RDI** | |
|---|---|---|
Energy | 31 kcal | |
Proteins | 1.2 g | |
Carbohydrates | 5.6 g | |
Fat | 0.5 g | |
Fibres | 2.4 g | 30 g |
Sodium | 1 mg | |
Potassium | 450 mg | 2,000 mg |
Provitamin A | 4,240 µg | 4,800 µg |
Vitamin C | 12 mg | 80 mg |
Vitamin B9 | 25 µg | 200 µg |
* Ciqual 1995 **Recommended Daily Intake |
Nutritionist’s advice
Low in calories, Chinese okra is rich in provitamin A and beta-carotene, essential for healthy skin, tissue, and eyesight. It is also a source of vitamin C, for energy and vitality.
What is about portions...?
-a child portion: a fist-sized piece
-an adult portion : two fist-sized pieces
Cooking and nutrition: tasty combinations
-Chinese okra tart: Once steamed and made into a puree, add to two beaten eggs (yolk and whites) mixed with a glass of milk. Pour into a large dish and sprinkle with grated cheese. This tart is a great mixture of calcium and provitamin A and perfect for a light supper.
-Chinese okra compote with pomelos: Its naturally sweet flavour is the perfect partner for citrus fruits: remove the ripe flesh of the pomelo and add it to the cooked flesh of the Chinese okra. Lightly sweeten the mixture and add honey, then serve on a bed of whipped fromage blanc. Contains vitamins C and A, calcium and pure delight.
