Uses of Lady’s Finger
Lady’s Finger is an all in one fruit with various uses. Here are some common uses mentioned below:
- Lady’s Finger pods can be eaten raw as salad or in the form of pickles.
- Pods’ large amount of mucilage is used to cook thick soups and broths.
- The pods can be cooked with acidic ingredients such as tomato or lemons to produce gumbo. It is a well-known food in the southern USA.
- Lady’s Finger leaves are also used as salad.
- Pod seeds can be used as a caffeine-free coffee substitute after a good roast.
- Pod seeds are a good source of oil which is greenish-yellow in colour.
- In many tribal cultures, the leaves and baby pods are used as painkillers.
Botanical Name of Lady’s Finger
The Botanical name of Lady’s Finger is Abelmoschus esculentus. It is a native flowering plant of East Africa and belongs to the mallow family. The fruit is popularly known as okra or orcho and is mistakenly considered a vegetable. There are so many regional names like “Bhindi”, “Dhenras”, etc. but the origin of the Lady’s Finger is disputed. People say that Lady’s Finger originated from either the Abyssinian center or Ethiopia or the higher part of the Anglo-Egyptian Sudan.
Table of Content
- What is the Botanical Name of Lady’s Finger?
- Biological Classification of Lady’s Finger
- Cultivation of Lady’s Finger
- Nutritional Contents and Health Benefits of Lady’s Finger
- Uses of Lady’s Finger