No? Well, you can; they are delicious edible greens that are high in Vitamin C and B6.
Sweet potato leaves are a popular food dish used throughout the world. It is a staple in many homes in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) Congo. This dish is called Matembele. Matembele is a Congolese Sweet Potato Leaf Stew that is cooked in a variety of ways.
When I was growing up, I remember it being one of my favorite dishes. However, when I moved to the USA, I could not find the leaves in the produce section. So, we settled for what we could find in the grocery stores.
Ah ha, Moment!
I grew up, got married, and insisted on having a home with a yard. Boy, am I glad we did that!
I love sweet potatoes, but sometimes, you buy them, forget that you did, and they start to grow in your pantry. One day, I thought, why don’t I throw this potato in the soil in the backyard and see what happens?
So, that’s what I did.
A few weeks later, we had potato leaves growing like weeds and killing all the other little plants we had planted near it. That is when I remembered we used to eat these back home! We called it; “Matembele”! The kids even had a song for this dish!
With excitement, I cut a few slips, went into the kitchen, cut onions, garlic, and tomatoes, and put oil in the pan to sauté.
I sauteed for about 7 minutes. After it was ready, my husband and I did a taste test, it was delicious! Just like I remembered it. My husband, who has never had it before, was filled with excitement. We realized it could be used as a substitute for spinach. We can enjoy truly organic food from our very own backyard. How cool would that be...?
In the DRC, this dish is cooked in so many ways, with so many additions. Most people make it with dried fish. Matembele is typically served with white rice or ugali.
The best thing about sweet potato leaves is that they can grow organically, with very little intervention, and you are able to harvest them almost all year long. When you are no longer able to harvest the leaves, you can harvest your sweet potatoes and eat them, too. Don't worry; it comes back every year in abundance.
In the link below, you will see a tutorial on one of the many ways Matembele is prepared. Enjoy the tutorial! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yV5d4x6QDpk
Happy farming!