In less than 3 minutes, here are 5 ways to boil water spinach so it stays fresh and green.

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The fresh green color of water spinach is not only important for its appearance, but also indicates that its nutritional content is still well maintained.

Brilio.net - Water spinach is a green vegetable that is very popular in Indonesia and has high nutritional value. This vegetable, which has the Latin name Ipomoea aquatica, is often found in various dishes such as cah kangkung , plecing kangkung, or stir-fried kangkung. In addition to its delicious taste, water spinach contains various important nutrients such as vitamin A, vitamin C, iron, calcium, and fiber that are good for health.

Although easy to process, boiling water spinach is often a challenge because the color easily turns pale and less attractive. In fact, the fresh green color of water spinach is not only important for appearance, but also indicates that its nutritional content is still well maintained. Here are ways to boil water spinach so that it stays fresh green with various methods that can be practiced at home, reviewed by BrilioFood , Saturday (12/28). Each has a maximum boiling process of 3 minutes before continuing with the next step.

One way to boil water spinach to keep it fresh green is by using the shocking method using ice water. Prepare a pot of water and wait until it boils. Add 1 teaspoon of salt for every 1 liter of water. Put the cleaned water spinach into boiling water for 2-3 minutes only. Immediately remove and dip it directly into a bowl of ice water for 30 seconds. This method will lock in the green color of the water spinach and keep it crispy.

The blanching technique with the addition of baking soda is an effective way to boil kale to keep it fresh green. Add 1/4 teaspoon of baking soda to 2 liters of boiling water. Add the kale and boil for 1-2 minutes only. Baking soda helps maintain the chlorophyll in vegetables so that the color remains bright green. However, it should be noted, do not add too much baking soda because it can affect the taste and texture.

The combination of salt and oil is an easy way to boil kale to keep it fresh green. Boil water, add 1 tablespoon of salt and 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil for every 2 liters of water. Add the kale and boil for 2 minutes. The oil layer helps protect the surface of the vegetable, while the salt helps maintain the green color and adds flavor.

The right boiling time is the key to how to boil water spinach so that it stays fresh green. Prepare a large amount of boiling water, at least 3 times the volume of water spinach. Make sure the heat remains high when adding the water spinach. Boil for a maximum of 2 minutes, then immediately remove and drain. Avoid covering the pan when boiling because it can make the color of the vegetables turn greenish yellow.

The last way to boil water spinach to keep it fresh green is to use lime water. Mix 1/2 teaspoon of lime water into 2 liters of boiling water. Add the water spinach and boil for 2 minutes. Lime water helps maintain the cell structure of the vegetable so that the color remains bright green. After boiling, rinse the water spinach with running water to remove the remaining lime.

Some additional tips for processing water spinach:
- Choose fresh kale with bright green leaves.
- Wash thoroughly and cut into uniform sizes so that they cook evenly.
- Prepare all ingredients before starting to boil.
- Do not soak the kale in water for too long.
- Use the water spinach immediately after boiling.

By following the method of boiling water spinach to keep it fresh green above, the processed water spinach will have an attractive color and nutrients that are maintained. These methods can be adjusted to the needs and ingredients available at home. The most important thing is to pay attention to the boiling time which is not too long so that the water spinach does not become too soft and lose its green color.

(brl/tin)