Arbi (or arvi) is a popular vegetable in India. It is not just popular in India. This nutritious root vegetable is popular across the globe. It is also said that people are cultivating this vegetable since last thousands of years. Being a Bengali I though it is just popular in West Bengal and Bangladesh. But in Northern Indian states, it also used to make awesome dry spicy dishes. It has different names in different places as well as languages. This vegetable is called arbi in Hindi. But do you know what is called arbi vegetable in English? What is the meaning of arvi in English?
What is arbi in English
The scientific name of this plant is Colocasia esculenta. It is actually a root vegetable. It is known as taro root in English. Many people also simply say this Taro vegetable in English. The English name Taro came from Maori language of New Zealand. Though it is a root vegetable. But its leaves are edible. so many people use those leaves to make various traditional dishes.
What is arvi (arbi vegetable)?
It is a widely cultivated vegetable across the globe. It is very easy to grow. It does not much care to grow at backyard. Nigeria, China and Cameroon are the major producer of this vegetable. You may be surprised to know that India is not on this list. Is it shocking? But it is true. There are many countries the world where it is much more popular than it is in Indian. Its tuber root is most popular food. But as said earlier its leaves are flowers are also edible.
Health benefits of taro vegetable
Every edible vegetable has some nutritional values. So whatever you are consuming that is good for your health. But anything can be harmful if you consuming too much quantity or your cooking process is not healthy or you have some specific illness. Being a foodie, I do not care much about health benefits of any vegetable. I consider it is healthy. I love to it that if it is used to make something delicious and simple.
Still I came to know that it contains significant amount of energy, arvi vegetable helps to reduce blood pressure. It is beneficial to control blood sugar. It also helps to improve your immunity power which is very important thing due to this pandemic situation.
Taro root based dishes
For me, taro root means gathi kochur dal. If you are a Bengali then then you can definitely understand what it is actually. If you are thinking it is dal (lentil) based dish then you are absolutely wrong. Here dal is not used. But as it looks like thick dal curry, it is possibly called as gathi kochur dal. Oh, I forget to mention that gathi kochu means taro root vegetable in Bengali language. Apart from that, it is mostly use as substitute of potato. Many people often replace potato with this taro vegetable because it is healthy and bring different taste in a dish.
When I was staying in Delhi, that time I eat Delhi style special arbi ke sabji. It is a dry spicy dish. I loved it. It is normally served with roti. It is really tasty. If you have not tried it then should try it. I made it at home several times. So next time when I will prepare it then I will share the recipe with you.
In West Bengal, people use taro leaves to make kochu pata bora (Taro leaves pakoda or fritters), kochu bata bata (bharta or fritters) .
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