Go Home and Plant Camote

This phrase was frequently used by my Spanish teacher to insult his students who could not answer his questions. Up to now,  camote is frequently looked down on as an inferior food by many. And those who eat it this "musical fruit" are considered lower forms of life.

Well, it is time to correct this notion, and uphold the value of this root crop through camote advocacy.

Nutrition-wise, the camote is a powerhouse. It is loaded with beta-carotene, the body's source of vitamin A, an important antioxidant that strengthens our immune system against bacterial and viral diseases, as well as cancer. It is also an important source of the B vitamin thiamin, iron, potassium and fiber. The camote is among the good carbohydrates: a complex carbohydrate packed with nutrients; with a high glycemic index, taking comparatively longer time before it is turned to glucose; and full of cholesterol-lowering fiber, which promotes digestive health. To top this, the shoots of the camote plant, or camote tops, like all other green leafy vegetables, carry concentrations of vitamins and minerals.

Camote can be cooked many ways. For a snack, it may be boiled, fried, baked, roasted in a bonfire, sweetened, etc. But I like it best simply boiled whole, and served warm, like in the canaos of old. For a meal, it may be cooked in pinakbet, dinengdeng, chicken curry, etc. A personal favorite is freshly picked camote greens lightly sauteed in garlic and a little bagoong. Yummy, for a simple, healthy meal.

Thus, going home to plant camote is not too bad after all in these times of lifestyle diseases, economic crisis and climate change. In fact, planting camote can be a viable option for those hit by the job cuts, those who need to lose that extra weight for better health, and for those who would like to contribute towards mitigating climate change. Agbiag ti camote!