Erand / एरंड / Castor Bean / Ricinus communis L.

OOO Farms Wild Food Erand

Other Names

  • Local Name: Erand / एरंड
  • Common Name: Castor Bean
  • Botanical Name: Ricinus communis L.

Status & Habitat

  • Habitat: Shrub
  • Occurrence: Tropical areas; wastelands
  • Season of Availability: Warmer parts of the year
  • Geography: Southeastern Mediterranean Basin, Eastern Africa, and India
  • Method of Propagation: Seed propagation
  • Part used for Propagation: Seeds

Edible Parts

  • Edible Parts: Seeds
  • Can be Eaten Raw: No

Method of Consumption

  • Raw: Yes
  • Ripe: Yes
  • Both Raw & Ripe: Yes
  • Dangerous Form to Consume: Raw plant
  • As Food: Oil extracted from plant; can be used to make idli.
  • As Medicine: Castor oil helps cure arthritis; oil given to children to treat parasitic infections; helps treat constipation.
  • Cooking Method: Oil extracted from plant; can be used to make idli.
  • Preservation / Curing Technique: N/A
  • Does Require Another Plants to be cooked together: No
  • Souring Agents Required: N/A

Nutritional & Medicinal Benefits

  • Nutritional Benefit: Good omega-6-fatty acids content.
  • Medicinal Benefit: Helps treat arthritis, parasitic infections, and constipation.

Tribal Wisdom

  • Tribal Wisdom: Castor oil helps cure arthritis; oil given to children to treat parasitic infections; helps treat constipation.

Recipes / Usage

  • Tribal Recipe / Usage: Castor seed idli:
    Soak dal and rice for 3-4 hours. Grind soaked dal into a smooth mixture. Grind seeds and sabudana to fine powder. Add soaked and drained rice, grind for 30 minutes. Combine rice mixture with dal mixture, add salt and mix. Ferment batter for 8-12 hours. Idli batter is ready.

Image Gallery

Erand / एरंड / Castor Bean / Ricinus communis L.

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