Quimbombó is a vegetable also known as okra, molondrón, quingombó, gombo, bamia, or candia; in Mexico, it is also called abelmosco, and in Peru, it is known as ñajú, coming from a herbaceous plant belonging to the Malvaceae family, originally from Africa and currently cultivated in various intertropical regions of America, especially in the Antilles and Venezuela.
About its name
In Cuba, it is called "quimbombo" or "quingogno," and it is cut into pieces covered with lemon juice or bitter orange.
In Barbados, it is known as "coo-coo" or a side dish. It is served alongside the house specialty, steamed fish, and in other islands, it is paired with any meat or fish; ingredients include okra, cornmeal, and butter.
This dish is also known in Jamaica and Trinidad-Tobago.
In the Dutch Antilles and Virgin Islands, it is called "funchi" or "fungi," omitting the okra altogether.
In 2000 BC, the Egyptians used the plant and some sources trace its origin to the Ethiopian mountains. Through the Atlantic slave trade, the plant reached the American continent.
Delicious Benefits
Among the health benefits, it is highlighted that it is a nutrient-rich food. Okra is very low in calories and contains no saturated fats or cholesterol. It also has a significant amount of fiber, both soluble and insoluble.
This food provides benefits for digestion, improving intestinal transit. Its properties include blood sugar regulation, and toasted seeds have been used as a treatment for diabetes for generations.
Cooking quimbombó is very easy since it is quite similar to peppers. It is common to find it in soups, stews, baked dishes, and stir-fries.
It can be served raw or as a thickening ingredient in soups and creams, giving them a thicker consistency thanks to its mucilaginous properties. Both the seeds and the fruit can be consumed, even raw.
An interesting fact relates to the musical composition by Los Hermanos Moreno (Nelson, trombonist and singer, and Willie, bongos player), whose group originated in 1986, with a song featuring the chorus "Quimbombó que resbala pa’ la yuca seca" (“Quimbombó that slips down to dry cassava”), popularized in the 1970s decade.
