Black Nightshade | Manathakkali Keerai

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Inside The Post -

What is Black Nightshade? | How do you identify edible black nightshade leaves? | Black Nightshade Uses | What is Manathakkali Keerai? | Manathakkali Keerai Uses | Makoi (Makoy) Leaves Uses

TABLE OF CONTENTS

• WHAT IS BLACK NIGHTSHADE?
• APPEARANCE OF BLACK NIGHTSHADE LEAVES
• FEW INDIAN REGIONAL OR VERNACULAR NAMES FOR BLACK NIGHTSHADE
• FLAVOUR OF BLACK NIGHTSHADE LEAVES/MANATHAKKALI KEERAI
• INDIAN CULINARY USES OF BLACK NIGHTSHADE LEAVES/MANATHAKKALI KEERAI
• IMPORTANT NOTE
• TIPS TO BUY BLACK NIGHTSHADE LEAVES/MANATHAKKALI KEERAI
• HOW TO STORE BLACK NIGHTSHADE/MANATHAKKALI KEERAI?

WHAT IS BLACK NIGHTSHADE?

Black Nightshade, scientifically known as Solanum Nigrum. It is also popularly known as common nightshade, hound's berry and garden nightshade in English.

In India, black nightshade is vernacularly known as manathakkali keerai or mani thakkali keerai in Tamil, makoi or makoy in Hindi and kokki soppu or kage soppu in Kannada.

Black nightshade is an edible herb or short-lived perennial shrub and it belongs to the family of Solanaceae, home to the tomato, chilli and potato.

It is an edible herb and almost all the parts of the plant (leaves, roots, raw berries and ripened berries) are used as food as well as medicine.

The black nightshade leaves are used as a green leafy vegetable, raw berries as a vegetable and ripened berries as a fruit.

In this article, I have shared the information regarding “Black nightshade leaves/Manathakkali keerai” including its flavour, culinary uses and tips to buy and store ideas.

APPEARANCE OF BLACK NIGHTSHADE LEAVES

Black nightshade has a rough textured green stem when matured or a purplish green stem when young. The leaves are thin and alternatively arranged. Leaf blades are oval to heart-shaped with serrated edges.

Hanging from the leaf axils, the flowers are found in clusters. The flowers are small star-shaped and white in colour. The berries are tiny (smaller than a pea), starting green ripening to almost purple-black in colour. The small dark berries are called Sukkuti Palam in Tamil and it tastes divine.

FEW INDIAN REGIONAL OR VERNACULAR NAMES FOR BLACK NIGHTSHADE

Tamil name - Manathakkali Keerai or Mani Thakkali Keerai

Hindi name - Makoi or Makoy

Kannada name - Kakki Soppu or Kage Soppu

Malayalam name - Mani Thakkali or Mulakku Thakkali

Telugu name - Kamanchi Chettu or Pedda Kasha Pandla Koora

Urdu name - Makoya or Makoh

FLAVOUR OF BLACK NIGHTSHADE LEAVES/MANATHAKKALI KEERAI

Black nightshade leaves have a slightly sour flavour and a herbal aroma. If you overcook the greens, your dish will become bitter. Also, for the best flavour, use tender greens.

INDIAN CULINARY USES OF BLACK NIGHTSHADE LEAVES/MANATHAKKALI KEERAI

In India, especially in southern parts of India, black nightshade is a common type of leafy green casually grown and eaten as food as well as medicine.

Manthakkali keerai/Black nightshade leaves are a versatile ingredient. You can use it as it is or dry and grind them into powder.

The classic Indian dish "Dal (dhal) with leafy greens" is a basic preparation using black nightshade leaves/manathakkali keerai.

For example

Manathakkali Keerai Kootu Recipe

In the picture - Manathakkali Keerai Kootu Recipe

For the detailed Manathakkali Keerai Kootu Recipe. Please click the below link -
🔗Manathakkali Keerai Kootu Recipe

It also can be used to make stir-fry, curry, chutney, soup, fritters and many more.

For Example

Manathakkali Keerai Thogayal Recipe, Makoi Pakora Recipe and Kakki Soppu Tambuli (Thambali) Recipe

Sometimes, black nightshade leaves are also added to the sambar recipe (dal-based south Indian curry), dosa batter recipe to make spinach dosa (keerai dosai) and to make mixed rice (keerai sadam).

Manathakkali keerai is a popular leafy green vegetable in Tamil Nadu. Because these leaves have been used to cure mouth ulcers, stomach ulcers, and numerous diseases such as tuberculosis, chicken pox, and skin problems. People say that the health benefits of black nightshade leave/manathakkali keerai help to heal diseases quickly and efficiently.

Finally, let me conclude this culinary usage of black nightshade leaves with a tip to improve the taste and health benefits: black nightshade leaves combine nicely with coconut oil.

Both ingredients are known to lower body heat and aid in the healing of many heat-related ailments. So combine them for optimal health benefits, especially during the summer.

IMPORTANT NOTE

Sometimes people are confused Black nightshade (Solanum nigrum) with the deadly nightshade (Atropa belladonna) and do not use this plant in their diet. There is a key difference in finding edible plants – edible black nightshade plant berries grow in clusters and deadly nightshade berries grow individually.

Disclaimer

If you are not sure about finding edible plants or if you are not comfortable using black nightshade plants in cooking. Please avoid using it.

The above are some of the recipe ideas using black nightshade leaves/manathakkali keerai. You could innovatively use these leaves in your cooking.

TIPS TO BUY BLACK NIGHTSHADE LEAVES/MANATHAKKALI KEERAI

Nowadays, black nightshade leaves/manathakkali keerai are easily available throughout the year from fresh green leaf vegetable sellers or any Indian vegetable store and also in the online market.

When buying black nightshade leaves/manathakkali keerai, look for freshness and select healthy bunches with crispy leaves. Avoid buying dull, wrinkled, and unhealthy leaves.

HOW TO STORE BLACK NIGHTSHADE/MANATHAKKALI KEERAI?

You can store cleaned and trimmed black nightshade leaves in a plastic bag in the refrigerator for a maximum of 2 days. Before storing them in the refrigerator make sure there is no moisture present in them. In case of any moisture is present in them will wilt the entire bunch of leaves. So be careful while storing black nightshade leaves.

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