Passionfruit Leaf Salad
Passion fruit vines (Passiflora edulis) are one of the most exotic plants around. This meandering flora has edible flowers, fruits, leaves, and roots, which have been used for centuries as food and medicine.
There are over 400 species in the Passifloracaea family, and the colors of the blossoms include purple, yellow, and red (granadilla).
I grew up in Hawaii, where lilikoi (the local name for passionfruit) is a popular ingredient in many sweet treats. So I simply assumed that this plant was indigenous to the Hawaiian Islands, but that is not the case.
The species grown in Hawaii is P. edulis, a subtropical plant native to southern Brazil, Paraguay, and Northern Argentina. There is a species native to North America, and that is Passiflora Incarnata, which grows in the southeastern part of the US and has been used by Native people as medicine and food. According to Juliet Blankespor, founder of the Chestnut School of Herbal Medicine, “It is likely that Native people encouraged this native weedy vine in their corn/bean/squash patches typical of traditional polyculture farming methods (growing different species of plants together, and allowing/encouraging weedy edibles to fill in bare patches).”
Health Benefits
There are many health benefits associated with this plant. And there are specific attributes to each part. However, the general gift of this beautiful vine is to help us destress, soothe a restless mind, and help with insomnia. Basically, troubles that are associated with an overly taxed nervous system. And as this recipe utilizes the leaves, let’s take a look at the nutrients contained in the foliage:
harman: an alkaloid, which may have a soothing and sedative effect
fiber: always good to add a bit more to your diet!
vitamins: A (beta-carotene)* , C, and niacin
*Did you know that vitamin A is fat-soluble and that beta-carotene is actually a precursor to vitamin A? That means our body must convert the beta-carotene into usable vitamin. Therefore, adding healthy fats (such as extra-virgin olive oil) to a salad helps with that process.
Ingredients:
3 oz. passionfruit leaves, chiffonade (cut into thin ribbons)
1/2 teaspoon sea salt
1/3 cup finely diced red onion
1/3 cup shredded coconut (unsweetened)
6 - 8 cherry tomatoes, cut in half
1/3 cup shredded cooked chicken (optional)
1 Tables fresh lime juice
2 teaspoons grated ginger
2 Tablespoons extra virgin olive oil or avocado oil
1/4 teaspoon fish sauce (optional)
1 small jalapeno, seeded and fine-chopped (optional)
Place the chopped leaves in a bowl and massage in the salt.
Allow to rest for 20 minutes and up to an hour.Place the diced onion in a bowl with ice water and also allow it to soak for 10 minutes, then strain out the water and use a paper towel to gently pat dry the onion pieces.
(Soaking raw onion in cold water helps to mellow out the pungency.)When the chopped and massaged passionfruit leaves have rested enough, mix all the ingredients together.
Enjoy your salad and savor the delicious nuances of the passionfruit leaves mingling with the other ingredients.
Note: Not all species of the passionfruit vine are safe edibles, so be sure to properly identify the plant before consuming.
References:
Blankespoor, Juliet. “Passionflower – Ecology, Cultivation, Botany, and Medicinal and Edible Uses.” Chestnut School of Herbal Medicine, Apr. 2023, chestnutherbs.com/passionflower-ecology-cultivation-botany-and-medicinal-and-edible-uses.
He, Xirui, et al. "Passiflora Edulis: An Insight Into Current Researches on Phytochemistry and Pharmacology." Frontiers in Pharmacology, vol. 11, 2020, https://doi.org/10.3389/fphar.2020.00617. Accessed 7 Jun. 2023.
Gamble, Morag. “Passionfruit Leaves Are Edible, Too! - Our Permaculture Life.” Our Permaculture Life, 27 Dec. 2022, ourpermaculturelife.com/passionfruit-leaves-are-edible-too.