Wellness – Super foods: Four Ways to Cook with Moringa

Noam Kostucki - JUL 04, 2017
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If you like to eat healthy, you may encounter a dilemma between food that tastes good and food that is good for you. As a chef and former judo coach, food for me has to be beautiful, tasty and healthy. You don’t have to compromise on anything, if you spend the time to learn to use healthy food in smart ways.

Here, you will learn about four different ways you can use moringa to make stunning dishes. First, for a bit of factual information: the leaves are the most nutritious part of the plant, being a significant source of B vitamins, vitamin C, provitamin A as beta-carotene, vitamin K, manganese, and protein, among other essential nutrients. This plant is a significant source of vitamins and protein. Moringa is perennial, drought resistant and can flourish in horrible soil. It loves sun and heat. It’s native to the sub-Himalayan area and very important part of Ayurveda (Hindu medicine).

Moringa tastes bitter and the powder alone gives the mouth a sense of dryness. I use moringa in various ways, including the following.

1. The fresh leaves finely cut (or blended) in small pieces work great in fruit salads, especially sweet tropical fruits like pineapple, papaya and mango. You can mix a few of the leaves in the salad, and/or add them on top for garnish. The bitterness of the moringa cuts the sweet of the fruits, and the dryness of the powder balances the juice from the fruit salad.
2. With sea bass and dorado fish, moringa powder can be used instead of pepper for the bitter flavor. The bright green of the powder contrasts beautifully with the white fish (or plate).
3. When making vinaigrettes for salads, moringa powder can be added to the blend, or finely chopped moringa can be added on top as garnish. Note that the moringa may give a green tint to your vinaigrette.
4. Finally, my favorite is to make a 60/40 mix of basil and moringa for my pesto. It gives a rich flavor and cuts the overpowering taste of strong fresh basil like you can get at the farmers market in Tamarindo.

My father used to tell me as a child “you are what you eat”. That’s why I believe that when we eat, we can have the trio of beautiful, tasty and healthy.