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wendy devlin

Mar 16, 2007, 2:04 PM

Post #1 of 19 (3829 views)

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Epazote?

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At our local feria de las semillas last weekend, a friend, originally from Tamaulipas, Mx gave me some of her home-grown epazote seeds.

Since I've not cooked with or grown this herb before...any tips about either?

Thanks. Wendy

TigerTonio

Mar 16, 2007, 2:48 PM

Post #2 of 19 (3824 views)

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Re: [wendy devlin] Epazote?

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It's commonly used with beans, particularly black beans. I have a friend from northwestern Michaocan who had mentioned to me that his mother would use it as a sort of a tea to cure stomache ailments. He said it was the most disgusting thing he had ever tasted.

wendy devlin

Mar 16, 2007, 3:26 PM

Post #3 of 19 (3816 views)

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Re: [Tio Toño] Epazote?

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Yes, Tio, epazote is often cooked with beans... so Señor Google also informs.

Evidentially the herb is credited in taking out the, 'rooty-toot-toot':)

And for several medicinal properties, among them, giving it the nick-name in English...worm-weed.

Since can't buy it fresh where I live, best chance to find out what all the 'buzz' is about; is to grow the herb and experiment.

Was hoping that the cooks on the forum might give out their favorite suggestions. for usage.

The adjectives used to describe its flavor, are VERY variable:)

TigerTonio

Mar 16, 2007, 4:05 PM

Post #4 of 19 (3808 views)

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Re: [wendy devlin] Epazote?

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Penzeys Spices added dried epazote to their line a few years back and it became an instant best seller. On the back of their jar, Penzey's recommends that one can add a tablespoon can be added to split pea soup or navy bean soup. Personally, I've never added it to anything but beans...and also to a zucchini casserole-taco filling recipe created by Rick Bayless.

Bubba

Mar 16, 2007, 4:15 PM

Post #5 of 19 (3805 views)

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Re: [wendy devlin] Epazote?

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quesadilla stuffed with oaxaca cheese flor de calabasas and epazote.

wendy devlin

Mar 16, 2007, 4:59 PM

Post #6 of 19 (3799 views)

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Re: [Bubba] Epazote?

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Bubbalicious,

you know I make my own goat's cheese and grow flor de calabasa.

take that as your best suggestion? Will have to wait about four months, though:)

sfmacaws

Mar 16, 2007, 5:13 PM

Post #7 of 19 (3795 views)

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Re: [wendy devlin] Epazote?

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Careful where you plant it Wendy, contain it. It's a weed and will take off if left unsupervised.

The restaurant downstairs from us lists this under vegetarian entrees:

Mexican Crepes with Poblano Chile, Corn & Epazote with Salsa Verde au gratin with Manchego Cheese $120

I've never tried it.

Jonna - Mérida, Yucatán

Gayla

Mar 19, 2007, 8:57 AM

Post #8 of 19 (3749 views)

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Re: [wendy devlin] Epazote?

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Wendy, a little epazote goes a l-o-n-g way. It's a strong herb and has a rather medicinal flavor. Some people think it tastes like turpintine. It is used more frequently with black (turtle) beans than other beans, and is, in fact, what gives black beans their characteristic flavor. I can't imagine cooking a pot of black beans without it.

Epazote goes extremely well with cheese and very, very well with goat cheese. I think Mexican goat cheese is milder than that produced in the U.S. and I think Mexican goat cheese and epazote is pretty much a match made in heaven.

I have a recipe for esquites (corn) that uses epazote. It goes as well with corn as it does with cheese. It's also used in soups and moles. It's pretty easy to dry but looses a lot of it's punch as a dry herb. Jonna's right, it's a weed and very oportunistic. If left to it's own devices it will take over the entire garden.

I think it's something of an acquired taste. It took me a long time to come to terms with it.

wendy devlin

Mar 19, 2007, 10:40 AM

Post #9 of 19 (3736 views)

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Re: [Gayla] Epazote?

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Thanks all. Will try growing out a small row of epazote in my market garden.

And be mindful of its ability to self-sow.

Turns out epazote (Chenopodium ambrosioides) is related to lamb's quarters (Chenopodium album) another edible weed with a reputation for taking over.

Find lamb's quarter's a tasty early green when picked and steamed young.

The goat's cheese made from my dairy does is mild like the Mexican version. Grow black turtle beans too...so looking like some successful food combos ahead.

And if epazote turns out, not to my taste, perhaps could give the herb back to the Mexican restaurant owned by the same friend who gave me the epazote seed.

Turns out, that at the end of that same day at the feria de las semillas, she asked if she'd given me any epazote seeds early that day(I was one of the fair organizers)

When she found she had, she asked if she could have a little of the seed back.

Seems she'd given her whole stash away to other people!

esperanza

Mar 19, 2007, 11:15 AM

Post #10 of 19 (3729 views)

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Re: [wendy devlin] Epazote?

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Wendy, your really oughtn't put epazote in your garden where it can (and will) spread everywhere. It needs to be contained in pots. We're talking weed here, weed like crabgrass or verdolagas. Once it gets a toehold, it will laugh in your face when you try to get rid of it.

http://www.mexicocooks.typepad.com

wendy devlin

Mar 19, 2007, 1:07 PM

Post #11 of 19 (3717 views)

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Re: [esperanza] Epazote?

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As there is a small number of noxious plants already laughing in my face.

Then pots, it is for the epazote!

I grilled my friend but she was really sketchy on growing details and mentioned nothing about it's evasive properties. It wasn't clear whether epazote could survive a west-coast B.C. winter although she says she has one plant in her green-house that survives from year to year.

Maybe more digging...is in order. Figurative...and in this case...literally:)

(This post was edited by wendy devlin on Mar 19, 2007, 1:08 PM)

Waterlily

Mar 19, 2007, 3:15 PM

Post #12 of 19 (3705 views)

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Re: [wendy devlin] Epazote?

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In Colorado, I grew epazote as an annual and had no problems. We were at US Zone 5A.

sfmacaws

Mar 19, 2007, 5:34 PM

Post #13 of 19 (3694 views)

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Re: [wendy devlin] Epazote?

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It is said to be one of the rampant weeds that grows along the roads in Northern California, Mendocino, Humboldt, Sonoma, Napa counties. Not much different from you in your micro clime I think.

Jonna - Mérida, Yucatán

Gayla

Mar 20, 2007, 11:50 AM

Post #14 of 19 (3660 views)

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Re: [wendy devlin] Epazote?

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A Mexican chef friend of mine recommended I grow it here in San Diego in my nastry clay-like soil and sell it to local restaurants.

San Diego is temerpate, neither very hot nor very cold, we don't get much rain, less than 10" a year and the soil in my yard is pretty awful. My friend told me epazote didn't need much in the way of encouragement and I'd probably have more than I could possible sell....................

It's a weed meaining it's rather opportunistic, you probably don't need good soil or ideal growing conditions.

bunny

Mar 20, 2007, 1:03 PM

Post #15 of 19 (3654 views)

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Re: [Gayla] Epazote?

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Intriguing . . . I'm looking forward to tracking this stuff down at the mercado!

Clearly epazote is the plant form of Bubba.

Gretchen

(This post was edited by bunny on Mar 20, 2007, 1:20 PM)

tonyburton

Mar 20, 2007, 2:06 PM

Post #16 of 19 (3642 views)

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Re: [bunny] Epazote?

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Not at all; there's only one of him.

sfmacaws

Mar 20, 2007, 2:26 PM

Post #17 of 19 (3635 views)

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Re: [tonyburton] Epazote?

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Yes, only one in our hothouse here at MC, plus it seems that this rare species needs excellent food and care to thrive.

Jonna - Mérida, Yucatán

wendy devlin

Mar 20, 2007, 4:26 PM

Post #18 of 19 (3626 views)

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Re: [tonyburton] Epazote?

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(This post was edited by wendy devlin on Mar 20, 2007, 6:59 PM)

Ed and Fran

Mar 20, 2007, 7:47 PM

Post #19 of 19 (3608 views)

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Re: [wendy devlin] Epazote?

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Fran uses it, besides the dishes already mentioned, in:

1. fish, with a salsa picante, done in aluminum foil
2. caldo de cameron
3. huevos en salsa/caldito de tomate
4. guatape de elote

Regards

Ed