Impwa, while we call them a vegetable are a fruit. Seeing impwa contains seeds and grows from a flower plant. Anyhow, love them or hate them as a food impwa has this going for it
Health wise
Impwa (garden egg) is nutritious, containing vitamins, minerals and dietary fiber that help our immune systems. It is also a rich source of potassium and other plant chemicals that are known to have a positive effect on blood sugar and helping to control weight.
High levels of cholesterol (the bad kind) will put us at a risk for cardiovascular diseases and what impwa does is help reduce this risk as they are high in fiber, have low calories and a low fat content. Impwa, help control blood sugar levels.
Impwa, also contain a good amount of iron and copper which are very important components of red blood cells and for combating anemia.
Money Wise
Impwa is generally a perennial that thrives in both warm temperatures and cold temperatures so it is potentially an all year round income earner. It has been suggested also, that as a crop it has a high resistance to diseases that are soil borne and therefore is quite low maintenance and easy on the pocket.
As a large scale cash crop impwa has been over-looked and passed over for other crops such as maize, rice and soya beans. This neglect means that it has received very little research attention.
For home gardens, impwa is well known for its ability to yield from limited spaces which makes it an ideal back yard plant. It can produce quite a good amount of fruit while being grown on the smallest of plots or even in garden pots.
Culinary Wise
Make a pulp by first roasting the impwa on an open fire (barbecue) or in the oven. Then remove and discard the skin before you mash the flesh. Add a few table spoons of vegetable oil, a pinch of garlic, chili to your taste and chopped coriander or spring onions. Serve as a dip or as a side with rice or nshima.
You can spice impwa up by using your favorite spice curry mix and cooking a curry sauce to eat with chapatti or pita. Or add some boiled diced potatoes into the impwa curry and serve with your choice of protein.
