Benefits of Caruru Sheets for Health

The caruru ( Amaranthus flavus ) is a medicinal plant also known as Caruru-de-Cuia, Caruru-Roxo, Caruru-de-Mancha, Caruru-de-Porco, Caruru-de-Espinho, Bredo- de-Espinho, Bredo-roja, Bredo and is specially used in the region of Bahia and, therefore, one of the typical dishes of the state receives the name Caruru.

Its leaves can be used in salads, sauces and sautéed. In addition, leaves and stalks can also be used in pancakes, pies, cakes and pastries. Seeds are usually used to make breads, and the leaves can still be used to make tea.

What is it for

The caruru serves to help fight infections in the body and help in the treatment of liver problems.

This plant also helps to fight against osteoporosis and to strengthen bones and teeth because it is very rich in calcium.

Nutritional information

The following table shows the nutritional information for 100 g of caruru.

The increase of caruru in daily food increases the nutritional value of the meal, making it possible to reduce the amount of salt used in the cooking preparation.

Traditional Caruru Recipe

Ingredients:

• 50 okra
• 3 tablespoons chopped caruru
• 1/2 cup cashew nuts
• 50 g roasted ground peanut
• 1 cup smoked shrimp, peeled and ground
• 1 large onion
• 1 cup olive oil
• 2 lemons
• 1 tablespoon of salt
• 2 cups hot water
• Pepper, ginger and garlic to taste

Method of preparation:

Wash the oats and dry well so as not to baba at the time of chopping them. Put the dried and ground prawns, the grated onion, the garlic, the salt, the nuts and the peanut to braise in the palm oil. Add the chopped okra, water and lemons to cut the slime. Add some dried, whole and large shrimps. Cook everything until it is pasty and remove from the heat when the okra's lumps are very pink.

To learn more about other calcium-rich foods see: Foods rich in calcium.