I used to walk to stay fit. Until I started to frequent a national park in Hyderabad. Over there, I quickly learnt that, apart from meeting health requirements, morning walks are also meant to shop for fresh vegetables and fruits. And, pick flowers for the day’s puja.
So, when I noticed people picking their choice of flowers and tucking them carefully into small carry bags secured to their belts or wrists, I was reminded of how we were trained not to pluck flowers as children. I had an aunt who would ask me to pick a flower from our garden, then as I reached out, would strike my hand with a flick of her fingers.
There are, however, some flowers we were always encouraged to pluck from our kitchen garden. These flowers were a part of our meal on days when fish and meat weren’t on the lunch menu. Since the menu at home was dependent on the lunar calendar, on full moon, no moon and eclipse days, vegetarian meals were a must. I am unaware of the scientific reason, but it has always been like that at home.
When people of the Northeast and Bengal eat vegetarian food, there’s a special effort made to provide variety. Vegetarian days involve elaborate dishes, special dals and a whole lot of seasonal fries. For once, the potato and brinjal is spared. Instead, flowers are batter-fried along with leaves and vegetables, such as baby bitter gourd.
I now live in a city, in an apartment. So flowers from edible creepers are more challenging to source. Nevertheless, I admit I have made a couple of failed attempts to steal pumpkin flowers from a neighbouring household. I’d like to point out here that I didn’t fail because I forgot my burglar mask; it was because I didn’t reach early enough. Pumpkin flowers are a sheer treat, when fried well in a batter of rice flour and wheat flour. However, there is a trick to getting them just right: they must be plucked at the ideal time. As legend has it, if they are plucked after the sun comes out, not only will they wilt, but will also have black ants, which are difficult to get rid of, as they stick to the pollen.
I always thought pumpkin flowers were eaten just because they taste wonderful. But apparently, they are also packed with minerals. They are calcium and phosphorous rich and are helpful for people suffering from osteoporosis.
Pumpkin flowers also have a good supply of folate and Vitamin C, though they do not have as much Vitamin A as the pumpkin. The high folic acid level provides an excellent excuse to eat an abundance of beer-batter-fried pumpkin flowers, even when you’re pregnant. By the way, frying the flowers is just one way of relishing them. In many food cultures, they are steamed, stuffed and even prepared as a main course.