In the fall, it turns out, it’s not just the hens that count. Vladimir, an experienced amateur gardener from South Sakhalin, counted and examined in detail the harvest of various tropical and subtropical vegetables and fruits. There are many interesting specimens in this collection.
Mustache Caramel
Melotria, it is an African cucumber and a mouse (Mexican) melon. If this beautiful vine is initially “caught at the knot”, not allowed to spread three-meter shoots throughout the greenhouse, but tied to the pergola, you get a very nice decorative wall or screen or arch. Medium-sized leaves, funny spiral whiskers, and most importantly, very small fruits. In size and appearance, they are very similar to actinidia fruits, which are also popularly called sultanas. There are several varieties of melotria, they have eloquent names: “hummingbird”, “baby” …
Vladimir gave birth to real miniature variegated watermelons, reminiscent of caramel sweets. True, they have nothing to do with either actinidia or watermelons in taste. The flesh is fresh, like a cucumber, and the skin is denser and gives acidity.
The rhizome is quite large, up to 700 grams, looks like a sweet potato and is edible. Taste – like radish or Jerusalem artichoke, used as an addition to salads in grated form.
It is recommended not to store the fruits for a long time, immediately start them for processing. Salads are prepared from them, they are added to porridge, and if the harvest is rich, then they are marinated in the usual way for all cucumbers. Pickled babies will please, for example, those who gathered at the New Year’s table. By the way, these “olives” are perfect for mini-kebabs on skewers, they can be strung, alternating with slices of cheese and sausages.
Lady’s fingers, but not grapes
The exotic okra is in some sense a relative of the mallow known to many, they are from the same mallow family. Vegetable crop, also known as “edible bellmosh” and “lady’s fingers”. Its pod-like fruits are eaten, but are actually oblong boxes up to 25 centimeters long. Okra is native to the African tropics.
It is cultivated in many countries of southern Europe, America, Africa and Asia, and in Russia in small quantities in the southern regions – Krasnodar and Stavropol Territories, Volgograd and Saratov Regions. For the preparation of delicacies, young fruits of the plant, containing many useful substances, are used. The cooking recipes are almost the same as for zucchini or green beans. They can be stewed, fried, boiled soups and preserved for the winter.
Dragon in kefir
This miracle of selection immediately catches the eye in the greenhouse. By all indications, this is an ordinary cucumber liana, but the fruits on it are light, almost white and half a meter long! White Dragon is the name of a cucumber hybrid bred by breeders. The original plant, but what can be prepared from such beauties? You can pickle like ordinary vegetables, you just need to cut each fruit into several parts. Many people like the simple cocktail of kefir and cucumber. They are especially interested in those who dream of losing weight.
The recipe is simple. For two servings, you will need several cups of fresh kefir, a medium-sized cucumber, two tablespoons of sour cream and some vegetables. All this beauty is ground and beaten with a mixer and decorated with a sprig of greens on top. If desired, the cocktail can be salted and sprinkled with black pepper to taste. They say that if you eat only such a cocktail for dinner for a week and nothing more, the effect of losing weight will not be late. Enjoy your meal!
Semyon RECHKIN.
PS
Dear readers among gardeners, gardeners and just nature lovers! Write to the editor about your experiences and observations, share what unusual has grown this season in your beds and greenhouses, as well as how you wasted these gifts on the fields, what delicious things you can cook from them.