Kopatya / कोपऱ्या / Sissoo Spinach / Alternanthera sessilis (L.)

OOO Farms Wild Food Kopatya

Other Names

  • Local Name: Kopatya / कोपऱ्या
  • Common Name: Sissoo Spinach
  • Botanical Name: Alternanthera sessilis (L.)

Status & Habitat

  • Habitat: Herb
  • Occurrence: Wet or damp spots
  • Season of Availability: July-January
  • Geography: Tropical and subtropical regions of the Old World
  • Method of Propagation: Vegetative propagation
  • Part used for Propagation: Stem cuttings and divisions

Edible Parts

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

Method of Consumption

  • Raw: No
  • Ripe: No
  • Both Raw & Ripe: N/A
  • Dangerous Form to Consume: Raw plant
  • As Food: Eaten steamed or boiled; eaten raw in small quantities.
  • As Medicine: Used as an ingredient in kajal; helps with treating haemorrhoids.
  • Cooking Without Prior Boiling: Not required
  • Boiling Before Cooking: Not required
  • Pickling: N/A
  • Brining: N/A
  • Fermenting: N/A
  • Drying for later Consumption: N/A
  • Overall Method: Add boiled/steamed leaves to curries and daal; raw leaves used in salads.

Nutritional & Medicinal Benefits

  • Nutritional Benefit: High water content.
  • Medicinal Benefit: Helps in Night Blindness and soothes eyes, Fever reducer, Galactagogue

Tribal Wisdom

  • Tribal Wisdom: Used as an ingredient in kajal; helps with treating haemorrhoids.

Recipes / Usage

  • Tribal Recipe / Usage: Heat coconut oil in a pan. Add mustard seeds, urad dal, and dried red chilis. When dal browns, add onions and salt. Saute till pink. Add leaves, wilt, and add coconut. Cook for 2 minutes and serve.

Image Gallery

Kopatya / कोपऱ्या / Sissoo Spinach / Alternanthera sessilis (L.)

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