PANCs: learn how to prepare four recipes with unconventional food plants | Land of People

The kitchen is increasingly becoming a stage for experimentation, creativity and discovery. On the stoves and pans, ingredients transform into gastronomic works of art and each dish tells a unique story. But there is still a little explored culinary universe, full of infinite possibilities: recipes with Non-Conventional Food Plants (PANCs).

With an impressive diversity of flavors, textures and aromas, these plants have high nutritional and even medicinal richness. With this in mind, Terra da Gente separated recipes with three types of PANCS:

1) Ora-pro-nóbis: It has 25% of the proteins in the dried leaves, which can be consumed just like the flowers, adding a sweet flavor to the composition.

2) Nasturtium: contains minerals such as iron and magnesium and is considered a natural antibiotic due to the active ingredients it contains. The presence of these elements makes the plant one of the few capable of helping ex-smokers and smokers deal with respiratory complications and pulmonary emphysema.

3) Hare’s ear: It has properties that act against coughs and pharyngeal irritations. Exactly because of this, the plant is also known in some regions of Brazil as “lungwort”.

Check out some recipes:

• 20 ora-pro-nóbis leaves
• Juice of half a lemon
• Peeled and sliced ​​ginger
• Assorted fruits (pineapple, avocado, papaya and melon)
• 4 glasses of ice water

• Blend the ingredients in a blender for 2 minutes;
• Pour the juice into a pitcher;
• No need to strain.

Nasturtium and ora-pro-nóbis salad

• Lettuce
• Nasturtium leaves and flowers
• Ora-pro-nóbis leaves and flowers

• Wash the plants well;
• In a container, mix the lettuce and the two herbs;
• Add nasturtium and ora-pro-nóbis flowers;
• Season with salt, lemon, garlic and olive oil.

• 10 hare’s ear leaves
• 5 tablespoons of cornmeal
• 1 egg
• 4 spoons of milk
• 1 cup of oil
• Salt to taste
• Black pepper to taste

• Wash the leaves and dry with a cloth or paper towel;
• In a bowl, pour the egg, milk, salt and pepper. Mix well;
• Pass the leaves through and coat in cornmeal;
• Heat the oil and fry the leaves;
• Remove them and place them to dry in a container lined with paper towel.

Chicken pie with ora-pro-nóbis

• 3 eggs
• 1 glass of milk (250 ml)
• 1 glass of oil (250 ml)
• 1 glass of wheat flour
• 1 tablespoon baking powder
• 1 pinch of salt

• 1 chicken breast
• 1 onion
• 2 tomatoes
• 200 g mozzarella cheese
• 500 g of ora-pro-nóbis
• 1 tablespoon coriander

• Beat the eggs, milk and oil in a blender;
• Add the wheat flour, baking powder and salt. Beat again.

How to prepare the filling

• Cook the chicken breast with salt and shred;
• Grate the mozzarella cheese;
• Chop the ora-pro-nóbis, tomato, onion and coriander;
• Grease the baking tray with butter;
• After that, place a layer of dough, the filling and the rest of the dough on top;
• Place in a preheated oven at 180° C for approximately 40 minutes.