Greens Bloghop: Moringa and Corn Soup

Philippines, as an agricultural country, is very abundant with vegetable produce especially the greens or what we locally called 'talbos' or sprouts.  With 7,100 islands the variates are endless!  I can only name name a few but I know there are tons out there yet to be discovered by me. 

When the the Love Bloghop group headed by Junia of Mis Pensamientos decided to do #greenslove for March which means greens, not color green but leafy greens, my default mode is to pertain to the lettuces.  I did not immediately fall in love with the theme until I realized that I am living in a country where sprouts and greens are everywhere!  Then I got really excited!  Yeah, very excited that co-hosted in this month's theme.


I grew up in a neighborhood where people plant their vegetables and eat everything edible in it.  I was exposed to the number of 'talbos' or sprouts like talbos ng kamote (sweet potato sprouts), talbos ng sitaw (string beans sprouts), talbos ng kalabasa (squash sprouts) and so on and so fort.  These are just the popular ones and those I know of.  There are even green leafy vegetables in our local market whose names I cannot say for I don't know them.  So you see, there are so many! Not to mention the tree leaves we eat like dahon ng sampalok (young tamarind leaves) and the famous malunggay or moringa leaves. 

For my first entry (if ever I'll have a second) for #greenlove, I chose to give a particular attention to malunggay.  Moringa, according to Trees For Life International, is a gold mine of nutrients.  Packed with vitamins and nutrients, these leaves are considered super food!  Supplements, delicacies and even beauty products being produced using this as the main component says it all, don't they?


Moringa leaves can be eaten raw or in this case, cooked.  Moringa is slightly bitter in taste, just a hint of it.  According to some articles I have read, taste and texture is similar to collard greens, spinach and kale.  I cannot say for sure for I have not eaten or even seen collard greens and kale (actual or in person) but I am confident about spinach, they are quite similar. If you are looking for alternative for moringa, spinach is the closest as far as my 'ingredient knowledge' is concerned *wink*.
 
This soup is packed not only with nutrients but with childhood memories as well.  My grandmother, being the grandma or 'lola' that she is, would always want her grandchildren to eat vegetables and she accomplishes her goal whenever she makes this dish.  My cousins and I would dig in, pour it over rice and  finishes our food in no time!

MORINGA and CORN SOUP 
(Print this Recipe)


  
Ingredients
2 gloves garlic, crushed
1 small onion, chopped
1 and 1/2 Tbsp shrimp paste
1 Tbsp vegetable oil for sauteing
1 cup shredded sweet corn, keep the husk
4 cups pork stock, if you don't have this, you can always use 1 pork cube instead
2 cups moringa leaves
fish sauce (optional depending on taste)

Method
In a saucepan, heat oil and start browning the garlic, add onion and saute until translucent.

Add shrimp paste and stir for 2 minutes.

Add water, shredded corn and husk.  Bring to boil and simmer for 15 minutes. 

Remove the the corn husk and add moringa leaves. Simmer for 1 minute.

Turn off heat.  Using a stick mixer or blender, blend soup until leaves and corn kernels are blended.  Bring back to simmer for another 2 to 3 minutes.

Turn off heat and serve hot.



NOTE: Moringa leaves can be substituted with spinach and any other similar vegetable leaves.

I'm honored to be co-hosting this event with these fabulous foodies from around the globe! Be sure to visit them as well!

Bon a croquer ~ Valerie ~ @Valouth
Cheap Ethnic Eatz ~ Evelyne ~ @cethniceatz
Easily Good Eats ~ Three Cookies
Oh Cake ~ Jessica ~ @jesshose

March is #greenslove month!

Please join in on the #greenslove fun by linking up any leafy green recipe for the month of March 2012.  Don't forget to link back to this post, so that your readers know to come stop by the #greenlove event!  The twitter hashtag is #greenslove




Comments

  1. I'm just preparing a post with some greens,will definitely post it for your bloghop. Love your healthy version of soup,looks very delicious.

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    1. that's great! please go back when the linky tool is live so you can link up your recipe!

      thanks for stopping by and for the sweet comments :)

      Delete
  2. YUM! Looks tasty! I love corn soap , wanted to try this recipe but can I substitute another vegetables that have similar taste as moringo leaves? Have a nice weekend! :)

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    1. Hi Kit!

      you can use other leafy greens like spinach :)

      thanks for stopping by, you are so sweet :)

      Delete
  3. Oooh this looks so delicious.Never had Moringa before, but would love to try it someday!Sending some #Greenslove to ya:)

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  4. It's a beautiful dish and I love how your grandma "lola" inspired this dish. I had a hard time choosing what greens I would make, since I already made all the good ones, but I was inspired too. I look forward to your 2nd post ;)

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    1. thanks Georgie! i was really influenced by my 'lola' with regard to cooking :)

      my second post will be simple but definitely great!

      Delete
  5. Oh, what a beautiful soup! I have never heard of moringa leaves - good to know spinach would work as well. Great recipe!

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    1. thanks for your sweet comments, Laura!

      i'm glad you stopped by :)

      Delete
  6. I love love corn soup! I'm going to make this right away and perhaps follow your suggestion of using spinach! BTW, why didn't you make this for me when I was in Manila? (just kidding :-) Thanks for sharing the #greenslove with us, Dudut! Keep up all the good work on this blog!

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    1. thanks Tita! yeah, spinach or some say kale is a good substitute as well :)

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  7. This is so cool. I don't know if I can find moringa in Boston, MA but you've inspired me to try! I love all the greens you have available to you in the Phillipines - it can be a challenge in Boston to find all the vegetables I want. Great post!

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    1. thanks Jess! i'm blessed to be surrounded with greens...ahahah!

      hope you can recreate this dish using what is available in Boston :) i believe there are dried moringa leaves being exported now, not sure if your Asian Market has one already :)

      thanks for stopping by :p

      Delete
  8. I just had corn soup for the first time a few weeks ago. This looks so pretty! I have never had morenga leaves, they look interesting! Visiting from greenlove bloghop....though I'll be posting mine tomorrow!

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    1. thanks! glad you liked it :)

      be waiting for your post!

      Delete
  9. I've never had morniga - I'm not at all familiar with it. But you've inspired me to look for it. Thanks for such a creative post on greens! Sending you lots of #greenslove!

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    1. your Asian Markets may have the dried version of this leaves (hopefully);p

      thanks for the thoughtful comments, Susan :)

      Delete
  10. Such a gorgeous soup!!! So wonderful co-hosting #greenslove with you!

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  11. Really gorgeous soup!!!
    I have never seen morniga before but I will sure look out for it....
    This looks wonderful!!!

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    1. thanks Reem! hope you can find one and make several dishes out of it :)

      nice for you to stop by :p

      Delete
  12. this soup looks delicious! i love learning about new greens out there :). i'm so glad that you hosted with us and discovered all these greens in your country hehehe. have a wonderful weekend, dudut! sending some #greenslove to you!

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    1. thanks Junia! you are so sweet!

      i'll do my best to feature the greens we have here in Manila and share the recipes with you :)

      Delete
  13. Soup looks delicious! Great combo! Linking my recipe for Green Gram Coconut Curry.

    Well, there's a lot of 'green' in March I guess. I am hosting a similar event :) Would be delighted if you could contribute some of your fab recipes for the same!

    Chef Al dente On going event: Gimme GREEN!

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    1. Thanks Rosh!

      will check out your event and link recipes applicable :)

      Delete
  14. I love learning about new ingredients - I've never heard of morenga greens, sounds so interesting. And this recipe looks fabulous - great photos!

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  15. Wow, this looks yummy! Stopping by to send you some #greenslove! Happy to be co-hosting with you! :)
    Cindy

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  16. So fun to learn about all the greens you have growing in the Philippines,especially the ones that I've never heard of. I love your soup recipe. It looks delicious, and super healthy too! Happy to celebrate #greenslove with you!!

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    1. Thanks EA! if only i can send some to you :p

      more #greenslove your way :)

      Delete
  17. I looovvee Malunggay! I use it in my Munggo guisado. Thanks so much for reminding me about the abundant greens of the Philippines. Happy greenslove!

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    1. oh yeah, it goes well with munggo guisado :)

      happy greenslove to you too!

      Delete
  18. This is so interesting! It's really cool seeing the variety of different greens all over the world, thank you for teaching me something new today! Your soup looks light and delicious, great job!

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    1. you are welcome jackie and thanks for stopping by :p

      happy #greenslove!

      Delete
  19. Dudut,
    This is such a gorgeous, healthy soup. I love that you added corn to the soup and introduced new greens to us. as well:) Sending #greenslove your way!

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    1. thanks Becky! glad you like it :)

      happy #greenslove to you!

      Delete
  20. I have never heard of Moringa and this is the first post of this challenge I see a green I do not know, love learning about new foods and want to taste it now. This looks like such a wonderful soup. Beautiful creation for greenslove.

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    1. thanks Evelyne! happy #greenslove to you!

      Delete
  21. Moringa is a new one for me! I love reading about all of the fun greens/sprouts you were able to try. I'm thinking for your description kale would be an excellent sub since it has a bit more "bite" than spinach.

    Great recipe, and much #greenslove your way!

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    1. ei laura! thanks for the kale suggestion, from what i have been reading, it is indeed a good substitute for this recipe :)

      thanks for stopping by! happy #greenslove to you!

      Delete
  22. What a fascinating post! Why do you add the corn husks? Flavor? I love trying new flavors in soups...but will have to use spinach here in Illinois. (:

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    1. Hi Serena,

      yes, the corn husk has like 50% of the corn flavor and it is best to include it when you are doing the soup :)

      thanks for stopping by!

      Delete
  23. Hi Dudut, What a lovely recipe! I'd never try moringa- it looks so cute and delicious...and now I'm curious. I've really enjoyed reading about this (new to my knowledge)green vegetable. Great inspiration :)

    Hugs <3

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    1. thanks Aldy, you're so sweet :) glad to have provided some new information ;p

      hug you back :)

      Delete
  24. hi Dudut! I actually bookmarked your site and when I saw this post I was really happy you chose to honor the malunggay! hahaha I agree, this lowly green is packed with vitamins and minerals - my nutrition teacher in college always stressed that part. haha and the soup you made is really, distinctly Filipino! it reminds me of lazy, rainy days around the table. :D

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    1. oh, that is so sweet of you :p

      wish i had more of these when i was a child, but then again, i was a kid...i don't eat much vegetables specially greens at that time :)

      thanks for stopping by GIo!

      Delete
  25. Moringa looks familiar. I wonder whether its the same as something I've eaten many times, and loved. I've had it sauteed with garlic and onions, and in soups. Great co-hosting with you

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    1. oh, could be! there are quite becoming popular now and some are being exported although not fresh but dried...

      happy to be co-hosting with you too!

      thanks for stopping by :)

      Delete
  26. Love this type of soup! And I love malunggay...it's my favorite vegetable to put in my munggo :)

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    1. thanks Joey!

      it's greatwith munggo i agree but sometimes i'm lazy to work on the leaves...ahahah! i actually asked the local vendor to remove the leaves of these malunggay for me!

      thanks for stropping by, dear!

      Delete
  27. I have never heard of Moringa, but it looks gorgeous! This soup sounds like it would be perfect on a cold night:-) Happy GreensLove! Hugs, Terra

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    1. hope you can find some one of these days...a lot of dishes can be made using this green as an ingredient.

      thanks for stopping by, Terra!

      Delete
  28. That looks really healthy!! I've never thought of moringa before, I have no idea how it tastes! i'd have to try it!

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    1. yeah, you should!

      thanks for stopping by, Val!

      Delete
  29. I've never had moringa, but it looks quite nutritious!

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    1. you should try it sometime! it's delish and yes, nutritious too!

      thanks Nella!

      Delete
  30. I've never heard of Moringa, but I love the sound of it and your soup looks delicious! thanks for sharing, so awesome to learn soomething new =)

    #greenslove

    Jen

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  31. Yeah i also want to use moringa as it's too much benefits and its a health care product.

    moringa

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  32. As we know indian moringa is the best in the world and the most demandable product. See our Desi Moringas store. we make best moringa product

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  33. Wow.. It's looks very Delicious Moringa and Corn Soup... I am looking for a moringa in marathi with some good recipes in Marathi Online.

    ReplyDelete

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