A PETAI A DAY KEEPS THE DOCTOR AWAY



Bought these at Kota Tinggi

Along Pontian.  Stopped to grab some petai pods. 

 Petai is commonly served in a Malay family dish
 
The humps on the pods are full and firm



Slit the pod and peel it open to get to the seed

All ready to be cooked




The pods grow in bunches


 



Organic microphones growing from a tree?







No.  They grow into these.




Petai with tempeh












Sambal prawn with petai.  Oolalla....


 



Petai cooked with minced meat

PETAI - DO YOU REALLY STINK?

Bought a bunch of these beans which mercilessly has been refered to as the stink beans. I always fry them lightly with chilly, anchovies and tempeh. They can also be added into my prawn sambal.  At the same time I also love popping them raw into my mouth. Crunchy yet they will leave a pungent smell emitting from your mouth. Another dish to cook petai is to add it to your minced meat with chilly, garlic and salted beans. Do you know the wonders of these well-loved beans of our grannys'/ grandpas' and parents' time?

Scientifically known as Parka Speciosa. Contains protein, potassium, phosphorus, natural sugars, iron, fibre, Vitamin A and minerals. Natural remedy for depression, high blood pressure, morning sickness, PMS, constipation, heart burns, calming the nerves, ulcers, temperature control, stress buster, reduce chances of getting a stroke, remove warts and even get rid of that damn hangovers.

Many other cultures see petai as a 'cooling' fruit that can lower both the physical and emotional temperature of expectant mothers. In Holland, for example, pregnant women eat petai to ensure their baby is born with a cool temperature. 

The list of good things does not end there.  It's a brain power food and cure for mosquito bites. It helps in weight control when you are struck with panic-induced food craving. Petai can also help people trying to give up smoking. The B6, B12 they contain, as well as the potassium and magnesium found in them, help the body recover from the effects of nicotine withdrawal.

Petai belalang (Leucaena leucocephala) is known among diabetic patients in Malaysia and Singapore for its blood glucose lowering properties. Some people dry the pods, steep it in hot water and drink it for some kidney problems.  However, as to this remedy being scientifically proven, I am not too sure. There is no point in risking further damage to your kidneys by using folk remedies that have not been scientifically tested for efficacy and toxicity.  
I bought another bunch of petai on my way to Pontian yeserday. The Javanese lady who sold me said that the species is Petai padi, good for cooking and cooling the body. Petai padi is harder to peel but has a thicker hump than Petai papan. Another specie is the Petai belalang (tusk) and as the name suggests, they are longer and have bigger pods.

So, as you can see, petai really is a natural remedy for many ills. When you compare it to an apple, it has four times the protein, twice the carbohydrates, three times the phosphorus, five times the vitamin A and iron, and twice the other vitamins and minerals. It is also rich in potassium and is one of the best value foods around. So maybe its time to change that well-known phrase so that we say, 'A Petai a day keeps the doctor away'.

One downside though. Just watchout for the smell coming out from your mouth and when you go to the washroom. The smell overpowers the whole bathroom. A little price to pay for a host of good things!! Friends, keep your distance away from me this week.

KELAPA BAKAR FOR MEDICINAL REASONS

The hollowed out creamy coconut flesh
With stall owner and her daughter

Her daughter helps her mum during the weekend
A big tent for drivers to stop

The next door stall sells giant kites

Cheers to good health

Let me serve you with my special toasted coconut

We finished the drink to the last drop

See the flesh sitting nicely and loosely inside the shell

Shaving the burnt husk white before serving

Entrepreneurial spirit to earn a living

The young coconuts before being roasted

Coconuts roasted on open fire

Stoking the fire and turning the nuts periodically

An overturned lorry that snailed the traffic

You would not miss the sign along the road

KELAPA MUDA BAKAR

ROASTED YOUNG COCONUT

The long drive to Kota Tinggi was slow on that wet evening. There was a massive traffic jam ahead and the siren and wailing of two ambulances did not add any optimism to our drive.

I told my hubby to make a U-turn and skip Kota Tinggi this time round. There would always be another occasion to visit this historical town of Johor Bahru. The U-turn was made and we passed by an overturned lorry that had caused traffic to snail.

We needed to stop by for a hot drink somewhere. I remember the kapok pillow stall along the road which also mans a drink stall and suggested that we stop there for a quick bite. A quick tour revealed no teh tarik or nescafe ice to wet the throat or banana fritters for teatime. Instead, a sign board shouting "Toasted Young Coconut" stared in front of us.

Since the traffic was still at a standstill, we ordered two toasted coconut or kelapa muda bakar to kill time. A couple next to our table was scooping the coconut flesh and sipping the brownish juice. I wondered why the juice was brown in colour. It was time for Azizah Christie to whip her notebook and do some investigative work. I asked the stall owner how the coconut was prepared and the benefits of drinking the coconut juice.

The young coconuts are roasted over fire fuelled with wood and branches for an hour. They have to be turned over periodically otherwise the shell would crack and the juice leak. Once they are evenly roasted, the coconut is removed from the fire and its burnt husk shaved off with a parang. A hole is made at the top part of the shell. This would enable the drinker to scoop the flesh. A rightly roasted coconut would have its flesh lightly cling to its shell and pop out from the husk.

The coconut juice is poured into a cup and mixed with palm sugar which has been boiled with lemon grass and ginger. It is believed that drinking this concoction can help to alleviate diabetes, high blood pressure, tuberculosis, gall stones, asthma and improve blood circulation. I guess with palm sugar added to the juice, diabetic patient and high cholesterol patient must drink in moderation. You can opt for your juice to be mixed with ice or drink it hot.

We grabbed our chairs and started to dig into the flesh. Its creamily soft and very supple to contour with our spoon. The juice is tangy but sweet and has a strong fragrance of lemon grass and ginger. I opted for a hot juice and did not regret it for the liquid flowed down my throat like a cleaning agent, flushing my phlegm and soothing the soreness at my vocal chord.

We parted with RM8 for two coconuts and a smiling vendor. I suggested to the stall owner to have a masseuse operate nearby to complete the roadside clinic.

Cheers to good health!