Apoth is one of those traditional veggies that will be strange to some people. I mean, it’s slimy, but the reason we love it so much is not just because of its deliciousness but also the nutrients. Well, if you are looking for additional nutrients for your body, we are here to show you how to cook Apoth(Mrenda).
For example, pregnant women in our region are encouraged to take it often for its iron content. There are many other myths regarding apoth, but the major one is its value on the body.
What is Apoth/Mrenda (Jute)
Apoth, also known as ‘jute’ scientifically, is another common veggie among the people of western Kenya. So we commonly know it in Kenya as Mrenda from the Luhya dialect, but in Luo, we refer to it as Apoth.
Of course, like most other traditional veggies, you can easily mix it up with different veggies to enrich and reduce the sliminess. However, for those of us from Suna Migori, it’s better to just cook it without adding any other veggies. Usually, we then eat it with ugali and omena on the side.
Different recipes show how to make it with Kunde (cow pea leaves).
Reasons why you should add Apoth to your diet
Rich in iron
Traditionally our pregnant women were encouraged to eat Apoth. But contrary to most beliefs that it makes the baby come out easily during birth, it’s rich in iron. A pregnant woman needs iron, and of course, Apoth has loads of iron.
Again this veggie has vitamin C, making it easy for iron to absorb into the body quickly.
It helps to improve bone health.
This simple veggie has magnesium and calcium to improve your bone health. With these minerals, you are sure to have strong bones and teeth. Of course, you also need magnesium to make the bones absorb the calcium.
It protects you against inflammation.
It has omega three fats to help in brain development and inflammation. Usually, you can get this easily from fish, but even if you don’t have fish, you can use Apoth.
Note, however, that although it delivers it in low amounts, it’s still one of the best options to settle for. Of course, it’s also great for those with arthritis as it will help majorly with inflammation.
Helps your digestion
The vegetable here has fiber that will also help you with digestion. You should try including this in your recipe if you suffer from constipation.
Lowers cholesterol
If you learn to eat it frequently, it will also help in cholesterol-lowering.
It improves eyesight
This veggie has vitamin A, which will help to improve your eyesight. With its vitamin B6 and folate, you won’t struggle with vision loss.
How to cook Apoth(Mrenda)
Ingredients
- 5 bunches of apoth(Jute)
- One large red onion
- Two large tomatoes
- Baking soda/thudho
- 1 cup of milk
Method
It’s one of the easiest vegetables to cook at any time. The easiest one that you will find almost anyone cook is where you mix Mrenda with Kunde(cow peas leaves) or any other vegetable. But the one I show today is where we cook it as it is. This is how we cook it in this part of Nyanza.
Clean it
Here, you want to pluck out the stems and then clean them. People don’t like being keen on this step, yet it will determine whether you then eat soil or not.
Note that the veggies have this perfect green color after you wash them, but they are also slippery.
Boil it
Usually, we would mix it with Kunde and Susa, but for this particular version, we are cooking it as it is. So then set it in the saucepan and then add baking soda. Then you can add water and switch on your stove for it to boil.
Alternatively, you could use Thudho(traditional baking soda style). Usually, we make it using the ash from the three-stones fire. We just take it, add water and allow it to rest for weeks. It works just fine because then you will take two tablespoons of the water-decanted sieve as you add to the veg.
Stir in the foam
It will quickly foam, and you ought to stir in the foam to ensure it doesn’t pour. But you also have to let it cook, and of course, when it starts to foam, you should give it about 5 minutes to be fully cooked.
It does form real bubbles and foam, so don’t wonder about it.
Now it’s ready for frying.
Fry it
We don’t want the complexity of other veggies, so we traditionally keep it simple on this step. So take a clean pan and add olive or vegetable oil.
Next, add the onions to fry. There’s a trick I like to use where I add even the spring onions to give it this unique flavor.
When the onions are ready, then you can add chopped tomatoes. Cover it for a minute or two to cook and break.
Now stir, add the boiled Apoth, and then mix it again. Allow it to cook for three minutes; then, you can add salt to taste.
Finally, we can add milk to elevate its taste even further. Keep tossing it and let it cook again for two minutes, then it’s ready to serve with your favorite ugali and other protein like omena.
@edelquinn23Best Mrenda(Apoth) style.. We are cooking Apoth today!♬ A tropical house that feels Summer vibes – Roa
FAQs
Is it just as delicious when you cook it without kunde?
Yes, I know most of us will say ooh no, it’s too slimy for my liking. Trust me, the first day I tried it; I just couldn’t eat enough. But these days, I love it, and of course, it’s a common meal in my hometown. If you can’t eat it this way, it’s okay to make it with Kunde still.
How much water is good for boiling?
It naturally has its water, too; of course, you need to boil it a little. Depending on your amount, I like just adding two cups of water.
Is it true that pregnant women will find it easy to let the baby out if they eat Apoth?
Well, some of these stories are myths. But then our forefathers used it, and it worked for them, so I’m going to respect that. I know it’s great for pregnant women just because of its nutrients. It’s going to deliver the much-needed iron.
What else goes with apoth?
It goes well with ugali and other proteins like fish, omena meat, or chicken. Im willing to listen to the way you guys enjoy it, though.
I would advise anyone looking to add more iron to their bodies to try this recipe, as it will not. If you haven’t yet tried it, you should try it today.