The culture of Namul(wild green) containing unique vegetable recipes of Koreans is receiving a particular attention these days where sustainability of the environments is under discussion as well as what and how to ingest the foods are being agonized. There are more diversified types of Namul available throughout four seasons than we usually know about. In addition, they have such excellent efficacies as to serve as a good medicine for our body. In this warm spring, let’s find out about eomnamusun(Kalopaned sprout) and minari(water parsley) known for their unique fragrance and flavor as being capable of restoring the lost appetites.

Ueomnamusun
 

It is a tree(Eleutherococus senticosus) belonging to Araliaceae, and is also called Fresh shoots of thorny ash

Ueomnamusun with bitter taste filled with thick fragrance contains a large amount of various types of vitamin and minerals, saponin, sulfated substances, anticancer and antibacterial components, being frequently used as drugstuffs in oriental medicine. It is beneficial to inflammation treatments such as arthritis, boil, cancer, skin diseases, with outstanding efficacy for chronic hepatitis and liver disease. It is also helpful for neuralgia, arthritis and myalgia.

Ueomnamusun is free of toxicity and has high drug nature so that new sprouts coming out in spring are collected for ingestion before being hardened. However, overly grown sprouts can be stinging and thick in fragrance making ingestion difficult. If frozen for storage in the blanched state, the taste of Ueomnamusun can be enjoyed at any time all year around.

ⓒ Photo: Ueomnamusunmijeonbyeongmuchim(wheat crepe salad of Kalopanex sprout, Bulkwang Med), Bulkwang Media

Minari
 

Minari is a perennial plant belonging to Apiaceae.
Minari with refreshing fragrance and crispy texture contains 'quercetin' and 'camperol', etc. as vegetable pigment substances called flavonoid along with protein, fat and minerals. It has efficacy for high blood pressure, acute/chronic hepatitis, diabetes, detoxication, menstrual pain, arteriosclerosis, backache, etc. However, in the case of having low blood pressure, be careful, since the blood pressure can be dropped.

For minari, it is recommended that its green color is clear, the length of leaf constant with its stem being soft without being too thick. select the one where the lower part of stem is light reddish brown and there are many fine hairs. Wrap around the root part with a wet towel, put it in a vinyl bag for frozen storage, or wrap wit paper, etc. put it in a vinyl bag and store erected in a refrigerator.

ⓒ Photo : minarigamjajeon(water parsley & potato pancake), Bulkwang Media

[Reference]
Temple foods mixed with stories of Monk Sunjae, 2011, authored by Sunjae, Bulkwang Media

Editorial Dept.