Eddoes Aka “Tropical Potatoes” (Soup Recipe)

Eddoes (Colocasia esculenta), also known as taro, dasheen or cocoyam, is a starchy edible root vegetable that belongs to the Araceae family.  It has tiny hairs all over. Its taste is similar to that of the potato, but with a nutty flavor. It is grown in exotic nations around the world.  They can be boiled, roasted, fried or added to homemade breads and puddings. Eddoe is commonly called the potato of the tropics!

In Guyana, the eddoe root is usually added to soup. The leaves of the eddoe plant is cooked with coconut milk with meat of your choice and eaten with either dhal and rice or just the plain rice and also sada roti.

Origin Of Eddoe

Eddoes seems to have originated in India and spread eastwards to Burma and China and southwards to Indonesia. Afterward, it was taken to Japan, Hawaii, Melanesia and Polynesia; in historical times, it spread to Egypt and the eastern Mediterranean, thereafter to Africa, to the Guinea coast and to the Caribbean (Guyana, Jamaica, Barbados) etc. It has been vigorously grown throughout tropical and subtropical regions. Today, it is grown throughout the West Indies and in West and North Africa. In Asia, it is widely planted in south and central China and is grown to a lesser extent in India. It is now a staple food in many islands of the Pacific including Papua New Guinea.

Description Of Eddoe Leaves

Eddoe leaves are bright or deep green and are heart-shaped. The base of the eddo leaves consists of veins, which branch from their stems. Both the stems and veins of eddo plant have a red to purple hue, which is usually variegated.

Eddoe is barrel shaped with the outside having inedible “hairy” skin. Inside, its flesh can range from white to gray. Eddoe have a light crumbly texture with a slightly sweet flavor, somewhat like a potato.

Quick Fact!

Based on the plant variety, the leaves of eddo can reach more than 6 feet in height. According to scientists, there are about 87 eddoe varieties around the world. Since their leaves are big, they are often nicknamed as elephant’s ear and luau leaves.

Nutritional Value Of Eddoe

Eddoe root contains a wealth of organic compounds, minerals, and vitamins that can benefit our overall health in a number of ways. It has a very significant amount of dietary fiber and carbohydrates, as well as high levels of vitamin A, C, E, vitamin B6, and folate, according to the USDA National Nutrient Database. There is magnesium, iron, zinc, phosphorous, potassium, manganese, and copper in it. The plant also provides some protein in your diet.

8 Amazing Health Benefits Of Eddoe

1. Digestive Health – One of the most important functions of the eddoe root in the diet, is its role in digestion. The high level of dietary fiber found in eddoe root (a single serving contains 27% of the daily requirement of dietary fiber) makes it very important for supporting our gastrointestinal health. Fiber helps to add bulk to our stool, thereby helping food move through the digestive tract and facilitating improved digestion. This can help prevent certain conditions such as excess gas, bloating, cramping, constipation, and even diarrhea. A healthy, regulated gastrointestinal system can greatly boost your overall health. Be sure to not consume too much fiber daily or else the side effects can negatively impact your body.
2. Cancer Prevention – Speaking of cancer, eddoe root also plays an important part in the antioxidant activity in our body. The high levels of vitamin A, C, and various other phenolic antioxidants found in the eddoe root can boost our immune system and can help eliminate dangerous free radicals from our system. According to the US Department of Health and Human Services, free radicals are the dangerous by-products of cellular metabolism that can cause healthy cells to mutate and turn into cancerous cells. By eliminating these free radicals, our general health is almost guaranteed! The American Institute for Cancer Research published a report in association with the World Cancer Research Fund, which stated that cryptoxanthin, which is found in eddoe root, is directly connected to a lowered chance of developing both lung and oral cancers.
3. Diabetes Prevention – Dietary fiber can also help lower the chances of developing diabetes because it regulates the release of insulin and glucose in the body. If you have a sufficient level of fiber, which eddoe root provides, then you can better manage your glycemic levels and lower your chances of developing diabetes. If you have diabetes, then fiber-rich foods like eddoe root can help prevent the dangerous spikes and plunges in blood sugar as well help improve satiety.
4. Improved Heart Health – Eddoe root contains a significant level of potassium, an essential mineral that we need to remain healthy and functional. Potassium not only facilitates healthy fluid transfers between membranes and tissues throughout the body but also helps to relieve stress and pressure on blood vessels and arteries. By relaxing the veins and blood vessels, blood pressure can be reduced and thus the stress on the overall cardiovascular system is reduced. Potassium has even been connected to increased cognitive function because neural connections can be boosted when blood pressure is reduced, and fluid transfer between neural membranes is optimized!
5. Vision Health – Eddoe root contains various antioxidants, including beta-carotene and cryptoxanthin. These antioxidants can help improve vision as well, by preventing free radicals from attacking ocular cells and causing macular degeneration or cataracts!
6. Skin Care – Between vitamin E and vitamin A, our skin is well protected when we add eddoe root to our diets. Both of these essential vitamins work to eliminate skin conditions and boost overall cellular health, meaning that our wounds and blemishes heal faster, and a healthy glow can be returned to the skin. eddoe root is nature’s little secret to healthier skin!
7. Boosts Immune System – Perhaps the most important element of eddoe root for health is its role in the immune system. It has a very high level of vitamin C in each serving. This vitamin helps to stimulate the immune system to create white blood cells, which defend the body from foreign pathogens and agents. Furthermore, vitamin C acts as an antioxidant, which can help to prevent the development of serious health conditions.
8. Increased Circulation – The mineral content of the eddoe root has dozens of useful applications, but the dual presence of iron and copper in eddoe root make it a very important food to help prevent anemia and boost circulation throughout the body. Iron and copper are both essential for the production of red blood cells, which carry the all-important oxygen to our body’s organ systems. This, in turn, helps increase the metabolic activity, prevent fatigue, allow the growth of new cells, and general oxygenation of the body, which results in the organs and systems functioning at their optimal levels!

Word of caution

The only flaw with eddoe root is its high-calorie content. Every 100 grams contains 112 calories, which can be an issue for people trying to lose weight. It has more carbohydrates by volume than potatoes, so overdoing it with eddoe root can contribute to obesity and type 2 diabetes if you aren’t careful. Eat eddoe root in moderation, to get the health benefits, without packing on the pounds!

Culinary Uses Of Eddoe Worldwide

• The shredded leaves are added to the ingredients and are cooked either by boiling, steaming, frying or baking.
• The corm is added in soups, stews or boiled like a potato.
• It is also used in dishes such as guanime, sancocho, alcapurrias and mondongo.
• In Netherlands and Suriname, the shredded root is cooked in oven with fruit juices, chicken, spices and salted meat.
• The root could be peeled, sliced and fried like a chips or pureed for a cold or hot soup.
• They are boiled, baked, steamed, fried, grilled, mashed, pureed, creamed, in soups, chowders, stews, salads and barbecued.

TIP: Here is how to cook the leaf with coconut milk and shrimp: https://www.thingsguyana.com/eddo-leaf-in-guyana/

Traditional Uses Of Eddoe Worldwide

• The large leaves are used in Peninsular Malaysia to provide relief from fever.
• The inflorescence sap is used in Palawan to cure wounds and also as an antidote for stings and insect bites.
• It was used in northwest Amazonia to cure snake bites.

Here is how to make eddoe soup

Ingredients:

• 1 lb. (450 g) Eddoes (white or nut)
• 1/4 salt meat
• 1/4 (100 g) fresh meat (pork, beef or chicken, salted or fresh)
• 4 pts. (2 liters) water
• 2 onions
• Sprig of thyme
• 3-4 blades shallot
• 1 tbsp. butter
• Salt & pepper to taste

Method:

1. Peel eddoes and put in water to boil with salt and fresh meat cut into small pieces.
2. When tender, crush eddoes.
3. Return to saucepan, add onions, thyme and shallot. Salt and pepper to taste. Simmer until smooth.
4. Lastly, add 1 tablespoon butter and serve with or without pieces of meat.

About Eddoe

Eddoe is a starchy edible root vegetable that belongs to the Araceae family. It has tiny hairs all over. First originated India then spread all over the world. In Guyana, the eddoe root is usually added to soup. The leaves of the eddoe plant is cooked with coconut milk with meat of your choice and eaten with either dhal and rice or just the plain rice and also Sada roti. It has many amazing health benefits but is also poisonous when eaten raw.

Article References:

• https://healthyeating.sfgate.com/nutritional-value-eddoes-1936.html
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eddoe
• https://www.healthbenefitstimes.com/taro/
• https://www.cooks.com/recipe/oc97g2rq/eddoe-soup.html