Malabar nightshade

Malabar nightshade is an alternative term for Ceylon spinach (Basella alba, syn. B. rubra), the climbing leafy vegetable of South and Southeast Asia. Its thick, succulent, mucilaginous leaves and stems suit soups, stews and stir-fries, thickening broths naturally, and it is rich in vitamins A and C, iron and calcium. Despite the name it is unrelated to the true nightshades (Solanaceae) and contains no solanine-type alkaloids, though like many leafy greens it contains oxalates. As a fast-growing tropical green it is harvested repeatedly; food-safety handling mirrors other leafy vegetables — thorough washing to remove soil and pesticide residues, and rapid cooling to limit spoilage.