Charota Patta Curry Recipe – A Forgotten Tribal Green with Bold Flavors

Food is not only about taste, it is also about tradition, culture, and health. In India, every region has its own unique greens that are full of power. One such hidden gem is Charota Patta.

This leafy green, once loved by tribal communities, is slowly being forgotten in modern kitchens. But if you look closely, you will find that Charota Patta Curry is not just another dish – it is a forgotten superfood with amazing benefits.

Charota leaves are known for their slightly bitter but bold flavor. Tribal people have cooked them for centuries, not only as food but also as natural medicine.

They believed that this curry could clean the stomach, boost immunity, control sugar levels, and give strength. Today, when people are searching for healthy food options, Charota Patta stands as a perfect choice.

Cooking Charota curry is very simple. With just a few basic ingredients like onion, garlic, tomato, and spices, you can make a nutritious and delicious curry that goes well with roti or rice.

In this article, we will explore the Charota Patta Curry recipe, health benefits, ingredients, and why it is called a forgotten tribal superfood. If you want to add something new and healthy to your diet, this curry is a must-try.

Charota patta curry Recipe benefits

Charota Patta Curry is more than just a simple dish. It is a natural medicine in the form of food. Tribal people always believed that eating Charota leaves gives energy, protects from illness, and keeps the stomach happy. Today, when people are searching for healthy and organic options, Charota curry stands out as a perfect choice. The curry is rich in iron, fiber, vitamin C, and antioxidants, which makes it a real superfood for the body.

Benefit Area	How Charota Helps
Digestion	Improves bowel movement, prevents constipation
Immunity	Vitamin C and antioxidants protect from cough, cold, and infections
Blood Health	Rich in iron, helps in making hemoglobin and prevents anemia
Diabetes Control	Natural bitter compounds help in controlling blood sugar levels
Liver Health	Removes toxins and keeps liver strong
Energy & Strength	Provides minerals that reduce tiredness and weakness

Charota patta curry Recipe ingredients

To make Charota Patta Curry, you don’t need anything fancy. The recipe is simple and can be cooked with basic kitchen spices. The most important part is to use fresh Charota leaves, because they give the real taste and health benefits. Along with some onion, garlic, and tomato, the curry becomes both nutritious and flavorful.

• Fresh Charota leaves – 2 cups washed and chopped
• Onion – 1 medium finely chopped
• Tomato – 1 medium chopped
• Garlic cloves – 4–5 crushed
• Green chili – 1–2
• Mustard seeds – 1 teaspoon
• Turmeric powder – ½ teaspoon
• Red chili powder – ½ teaspoon
• Salt – as per taste
• Oil – 2 tablespoons
• Water – 1 cup

How to Cook Charota Patta Curry at Home

Cooking Charota Patta Curry is very simple. You don’t need to be an expert chef to prepare it. With a few basic steps, you can make this healthy and traditional dish at home. The taste is slightly bitter, but when cooked with onion, garlic, and tomato, it becomes very flavorful.

Wash the Leaves

• Take fresh Charota leaves, wash them properly in clean water, and chop them finely.

Heat Oil

• Add 2 tablespoons of oil in a pan and let it heat.

Add Mustard Seeds

• Put 1 teaspoon mustard seeds in the hot oil and let them crackle. This gives a nice aroma.

Fry Onion and Garlic

• Add chopped onion and crushed garlic. Fry till golden brown.

Add Tomato and Spices

• Put chopped tomato, turmeric powder, red chili powder, and green chili. Mix well and cook for 3–4 minutes.

Add Charota Leaves

• Now add the chopped Charota leaves. Stir properly so that the spices coat the leaves.

Add Salt and Water

• Sprinkle salt as per taste and add 1 cup water. Mix again.

Cook with Lid On

• Cover the pan with a lid and cook on low flame for 8–10 minutes. Stir in between so that it does not stick.

Check and Serve

• Once the leaves become soft and well-cooked, your Charota Patta Curry is ready.

Health Benefits of Eating Charota Patta Curry

Charota Patta is not only a vegetable, it is also like natural medicine. Tribal people in India have used these leaves for centuries because they believed it gives energy and protects the body from sickness. Even though it tastes a little bitter, that bitterness is actually very powerful for health.

1. Improves Digestion
   • Charota leaves are rich in fiber, which keeps your stomach clean and prevents constipation.
   • It also helps in better absorption of food.
2. Good for Blood and Energy
   • These leaves are rich in iron, which helps in making hemoglobin.
   • Eating Charota prevents weakness and anemia (lack of blood).
3. Controls Blood Sugar
   • The natural bitter compounds in Charota help in controlling high sugar levels.
   • That’s why it is considered useful for people with diabetes.
4. Boosts Immunity
   • Charota is full of Vitamin C and antioxidants, which protect the body from infections like cough, cold, and fever.
   • It makes your body stronger to fight against diseases.
5. Liver Health
   • Charota acts like a natural detox.
   • It removes toxins from the body and keeps the liver healthy.
6. Protects from Inflammation
   • The leaves have natural anti-inflammatory properties.
   • They help in reducing swelling and body pain.
7. Keeps Body Light and Fresh
   • Eating Charota gives a feeling of freshness and lightness because it cleans the stomach and blood.

Where Can You Find Charota Leaves

Charota leaves are not like spinach or fenugreek that you can buy easily in every supermarket. They are mostly found in tribal and rural areas of India, where people still use them in their daily food. If you want to try Charota Patta Curry, here are the places where you can find these special leaves:

1. Tribal and Village Areas
   • Charota grows naturally in forests and fields.
   • Villagers and tribal people collect them and cook them fresh.
2. Local Vegetable Markets (Haats/Mandis)
   • In rural markets, especially weekly haats, you can sometimes find fresh Charota leaves.
   • These markets are common in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Gujarat, and Chhattisgarh.
3. Forests and Wild Areas
   • Charota is a wild plant that grows on its own during certain seasons.
   • People living near forests can easily get them.
4. Ayurvedic or Herbal Shops
   • In some places, dried Charota leaves or Charota powder is sold in ayurvedic shops.
   • These are used for medicinal purposes.
5. Home Garden
   • If you get seeds or a small plant, you can grow Charota in your own kitchen garden.
   • It grows well in Indian soil and does not need too much care.

Why Is Charota Patta Curry Considered a Forgotten Superfood

Charota Patta Curry is called a forgotten superfood because it was once an important part of tribal diets but slowly disappeared from modern kitchens. Long ago, tribal communities cooked these leaves almost every week. They knew that Charota leaves were not just food but also medicine for the body.

The slightly bitter taste of the leaves is a sign of their natural healing power, as bitterness often means strong medicinal qualities. With time, as cities grew and supermarkets became popular, people started eating only common greens like spinach and fenugreek. Charota, being a wild and seasonal plant, was not sold widely and slowly got forgotten.

Even though it is not famous today, Charota Patta is full of nutrition. It has iron, fiber, vitamin C, and antioxidants that make it very good for digestion, blood health, liver, and immunity. Because of these powerful qualities, health experts now call it a “superfood.”

The reason it is called a forgotten superfood is because we had it in our culture for centuries, but in the race of modern life, we stopped using it. By bringing Charota Curry back into our meals, we can not only enjoy a traditional tribal dish but also give our body the strength and healing it truly needs.

Conclusion

Charota Patta Curry is more than just a traditional dish it is a treasure from our tribal food culture. This simple green curry shows us how nature gives us powerful foods that can heal and nourish our body.

Even though it has been forgotten by many people, it still carries the same strength and goodness as before. Charota leaves are rich in nutrients, help in digestion, boost immunity, and keep the body healthy in natural ways.

By cooking Charota Patta Curry at home, we are not only enjoying a tasty and unique dish but also bringing back a lost superfood from our history. Including it in our diet is like giving respect to our roots and choosing a healthy lifestyle at the same time.

So, the next time you see Charota leaves, don’t ignore them. Try this bold and healthy curry, and share its story with your family. This way, we can make sure this forgotten green finds its place again on our plates.

FAQs

1. What is Charota Patta Curry?
A tribal curry made from Charota leaves.

2. Is Charota Patta good for health?
Yes, it is full of nutrients.

3. Where can I find Charota leaves?
In forests and local markets.

4. Can children eat Charota Patta Curry?
Yes, if cooked properly.

5. Why is Charota called a forgotten superfood?
Because people stopped using it with time.