How to Cook Managu

The African Nightshade, also locally known as Managu, is a popular vegetable in Eastern Africa. It is eaten together with the local staple dish, Ugali. Managu is a naturally bitter vegetable and must be prepared specially to eliminate this bitterness.

Ingredients (to serve 3 people)

1. Three bunches of Managu
2. One chopped onion
3. Cooking oil
4. 1 cup Whole milk or cream
5. Half a teaspoon of salt

Directions

1. Remove the leaves from the branches and boil in a sufuria until tender.
2. Drain the water.
3. In a separate sufuria, fry the chopped onion.
4. Add the Managu while stirring.
5. Add the salt.
6. Lower the heat and allow to simmer for 2 minutes.
7. Add the cream and allow to cook on low heat for 5 minutes.
8. Serve with Ugali

Managu Nutritional Information

The leaves of Managu are highly nutritious consisting of:

• 87.2 g water
• 1.0 mg iron
• 4.3 g protein
• 38 kcalories
• 5.7 g carbohydrates
• 1.4 g fibre
• 442 mg calcium
• 20 mg ascorbic acid
• 3660 µg ß-Carotene
• 75 mg phosphorus
• 0.59 mg riboflavin per 100 g fresh weight.

The leaves also contain high levels of vitamin A, B, and C, and phenolics and alkaloids, including cocaine, quinine, nicotine, and morphine. A diet incorporating Managu is recommended for pregnant or nursing mothers, as it is good for people with iron deficiencies, and malaria patients.

Suggested Reading

Homemade Pizza

References
Wikipedia