Huauzontle
Encyclopedia
Huauzontle, Chenopodium
nuttalliae, is a Mexican vegetable related to the common American weed goosefoot, that vaguely resembles broccoli
although the stems are much thinner and support fewer of the leaves.
As with other members of the goosefoot family, huauzontle is edible and it is typically prepared in a manner similar to spinach
or broccoli. Alternatively, huauzontles can be encased in an egg batter and deep fried with a stick of salty Mexican cheese.
The plant Chenopodium nuttalliae is closely related to Chenopodium quinoa from the Andes
(known as quinoa), but a different part of the plant is harvested. With huauzontle the inflorescence
is eaten, but with quinoa, a pseudograin, though the greens are edible it is primarily the seed that is harvested for food.
Chenopodium
Chenopodium is a genus of about 150 species of perennial or annual herbaceous flowering plants known as the goosefoots, which occur almost anywhere in the world. It is placed in the family Amaranthaceae in the APG II system; older classifications separate it and its relatives as Chenopodiaceae, but...
nuttalliae, is a Mexican vegetable related to the common American weed goosefoot, that vaguely resembles broccoli
Broccoli
Broccoli is a plant in the cabbage family, whose large flower head is used as a vegetable.-General:The word broccoli, from the Italian plural of , refers to "the flowering top of a cabbage"....
although the stems are much thinner and support fewer of the leaves.
As with other members of the goosefoot family, huauzontle is edible and it is typically prepared in a manner similar to spinach
Spinach
Spinach is an edible flowering plant in the family of Amaranthaceae. It is native to central and southwestern Asia. It is an annual plant , which grows to a height of up to 30 cm. Spinach may survive over winter in temperate regions...
or broccoli. Alternatively, huauzontles can be encased in an egg batter and deep fried with a stick of salty Mexican cheese.
The plant Chenopodium nuttalliae is closely related to Chenopodium quinoa from the Andes
Andes
The Andes is the world's longest continental mountain range. It is a continual range of highlands along the western coast of South America. This range is about long, about to wide , and of an average height of about .Along its length, the Andes is split into several ranges, which are separated...
(known as quinoa), but a different part of the plant is harvested. With huauzontle the inflorescence
Inflorescence
An inflorescence is a group or cluster of flowers arranged on a stem that is composed of a main branch or a complicated arrangement of branches. Strictly, it is the part of the shoot of seed plants where flowers are formed and which is accordingly modified...
is eaten, but with quinoa, a pseudograin, though the greens are edible it is primarily the seed that is harvested for food.