Scientific name: Tropaeolum majus

Family: Tropeolaceae

Origin: S America

Medicinal use: In the kitchen, its tender leaves and very finely chopped flowers are used in soups and salads, giving a fresh and spicy flavor reminiscent of pepper or mustard. The flowers, due to their pleasant taste and appearance, are used to decorate meat, fish, salads and vegetables dishes. The plant is especially rich in vitamins and minerals and a remedy used to cleanse the blood, as it supports the body in its detoxification. The flavor of the leaves is slightly spicy. Optically, its crumbled leaves also enrich pasta dishes and pizzas.

Scientific name: Solanum melongena

Family: Solanaceae

Origin: S Asia

Medicinal use: The consumption of eggplant is recommended after a brief cooking and with its skin properly washed previously, since it is in this last part of the eggplant where antioxidants and fiber are found in greater proportions. We can include eggplant in a sauté, a sauce, an omelette, a vegetarian curry or, in a tasty salad. Eggplant is a very low-calorie vegetable because it has more than 90% water.

Scientific name: Apium graveolens

Family: Apiaceae

Origin: Mediterranean

Medicinal use:Celeriac root can be used raw or cooked. Celeriac meat is tough and compact and off-white. Celeriac has a mild flavor and is often used as a flavoring in soups and stews, although it is increasingly being used on its own, usually pureed, or in stews, gratins, and baked dishes. In any case, celery is very positive in the human diet due to its high content of dietary fiber, vitamins and minerals, in addition to being considered a good diuretic due to the high percentage of water.

Scientific name: Dysphania ambrosioides

Family: Amaranthaceae

Origin: S Mexico

Medicinal use:In Mexican gastronomy it is used in many dishes, such as corn and esquites, black beans, in some seafood soups such as chilpachole de jaiba, within a wide variety of broths, It is commonly believed that it prevents flatulence caused by consumption of beans. To be used in food, its flowers are removed and it is used as a condiment, adding a deep flavor, with bitter nuances and very aromatic, which is why it is used in moderation.

Scientific name: Ocimum basilicum

Family: Lamiaceae

Origin: S Asia and NE Africa

Medicinal use: In Laos, lemon basil is widely used in curries, stews, and fried dishes as it is the most commonly used type of basil in Laos. Many of the stews of Lao cuisine require the use of lemon basil. It is often eaten raw in salads or lalap (raw vegetables) and accompanied by sambal. Lemon basil is often used to flavor certain Indonesian dishes, such as curries, soups, stews, or steamed or grilled dishes.

Scientific name: Ocimum americanum

Family: Lamiaceae

Origin: Tropical Old world

Medicinal use: It is a very common ingredient in Thai, Vietnamese and Chinese cuisine, due to its strong flavor similar to anise (Pimpinella anisum); It is used to flavor curries and sauteed vegetables. They are used as a condiment to flavor salads and pasta and pizzas typical of Italian cuisine. They also flavor fish and meat-based roasts, sauces, croquettes, meatballs, and even vegetable patés.