Malunggay (Horse Radish) pesto

Philippines
February 15, 2013 4:45am CST
Last night, we had simple dinner as celebration of Valentine's day at home. I cooked chicken and pesto. However, instead of using the usual basil leaves for pesto, I used the said miracle tree, malunggay or horse radish. The taste seems odd (LOL) but I think we are just not used to eat such kind of pasta. One thing I learned here is that before cooking such meals new to you, try to make a small quantity first. How about you mylotters, what are some of the dishes you cooked for the first time and you found it odd to your taste buds? Good day mylotters.
1 person likes this
4 responses
@urbandekay (18278)
15 Feb 13
I did not understand your post originally until I did some research Horse Raddish (Armoracia rusticana) is a low growing root crop with a hot spicy flavour from which, here in England, we make a sauce similar in taste to Japanese Wasabi. Malunggay (Moringa oleifera)is a tree and has roots that resemble Horse Raddish so I wonder is the taste the same? all the best, urban
• Philippines
15 Feb 13
What I am taking about in this discussion is the Moringa Oleifera. Sorry for the confusion because I also searched in the net the English term for malunggay is Horse radish. Thanks for clearing out.
1 person likes this
@urbandekay (18278)
15 Feb 13
Here in England we would not call Moringa oleifera (Note that second term is never capitalised) as horseradish, informally we might call it the drumstick tree all the best, urban
• Philippines
15 Feb 13
Sorry for the mistake. I remember that like what you said, they are also called drumstick tree because of their fruits that seems like a drumstick. Do they grow there in England too?
• Philippines
18 Feb 13
While reading your post, I was intrigued with the idea of malunggay for pesto but then further down I backed out haha. I think one thing weird for me is papaya in tinola. I know it's common practice but I cannot get a taste for it. Another is avocado in sandwiches or tacos. The texture is a bit too strange for me. Buttered chicken with a ketchup coating is also not appealing to me. I mean isn't buttered chicken not supposed to be red? Haha
• Philippines
19 Feb 13
Hahaha. Yes, I will never cook this dish again. LOL For me papaya in tinola is better than sayote but avocado in sandwiches I haven't tried it. I heard using this in tacos or nacho chips as dip and it is called guacamole. I think catsup just used to make the chicken a bit brown or reddish. However, using this, you cannot tell if the chicken is already cooked.
@Raine38 (12257)
• United States
15 Feb 13
Uh, I don't think malunggay is horse radish. Anyway, I ilke malunggay with sardines, in chicken tinola and now that you mention it, I am curious with it being used for pesto chicken. I might try it sometime. It's very rich in fiber and it is easily found anywhere in our place in the Philippines.
• Philippines
16 Feb 13
I really don't know the right English name for this one. Some called this horse radish while some called this drumstick tree. I agree with you that this plant is a cheap source of nutrients. You can check the recipe on my blog.
• Philippines
15 Feb 13
Malunggay? Now that's something I'd like to try. Malunggay pesto sounds like it's worth trying. And I bet it's gonna taste great.
• Philippines
16 Feb 13
I think you gonna try this with your own risk. LOL Maybe, I am just not used to eat pesto that is why I find the taste odd. hehehe