Potato greens

[ulterior epicure]

Today, at an Asian market, I encountered a bag of "Potato Greens" - they looked like potato plants. I had always thought that potato greens (ie. stems and leaves) were poisonous. A Google search yielded numerous links to information about the edibility of sweet potato plants. But, I found nothing about the greens of a regular potato. I have no idea what kind of potato these "potato greens" are, but I imagine they are edible if sold in an Asian market. I have a bag on my counter - eat or discard?

[petite tête de chou]

The sweet potato and regular potato plant belong to different families. The regular potato is a member of the poisonous nightshade (Solanaceae) family as are tomatoes and eggplants. Big no-no on eating their greens.

The sweet potato is a member of the morning glory family and barely related to a regular potato (russets, reds, yukons etc). That's about all I know.

eta...I'd definitely eat what you bought.

Edited November 9, 2007 by petite tête de chou (log)

[ulterior epicure]

The sweet potato and regular potato plant belong to different families. The regular potato is a member of the poisonous nightshade (Solanaceae) family as are tomatoes and eggplants. Big no-no on eating their greens.

The sweet potato is a member of the morning glory family and barely related to a regular potato (russets, reds, yukons etc). That's about all I know. 

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Yes, thanks - you articulated the difference better than I. Knowing that difference is why I'm hesitant. I know that sweet potato greens are commonly used in Chinese cooking - I've had them... and so it makes sense to assume these are sweet potato greens. It may just be mislabeled as "Potato Greens."

Edited November 9, 2007 by ulterior epicure (log)

[andiesenji]

As stated above, you do not want to eat any part of a potato plant (Solanum tuberosum) except for the tubers.

And this includes sprouts or the skin when it has turned green. In fact, if the green has migrated more than 1/4 inch into the tuber, it is best to discard the whole thing, no matter how wasteful it may seem. Adults who eat them may get a tummy ache but small children can become very ill.

Here is some more information.

Edited November 9, 2007 by andiesenji (log)

[GlorifiedRice]

And yet the idiots at the grocery stores make SURE to put the taters and onions under BRIGHT lights and they are always green prematurely...

[Tri2Cook]

The regular potato is a member of the poisonous nightshade (Solanaceae) family as are tomatoes and eggplants. Big no-no on eating their greens.

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Yep, and yet I'm positive I remember an episode of Iron Chef (the original, not ICA) in which one of the chefs served beefsteak tomato leaves as part of a dish. So maybe you don't trust something just because it's available in a market or maybe you just thumb your nose at the experts and eat what you want... feeling lucky?

[Fugu]

Chilli pepper belong to the nightshade family and yet the leaves are edible. We cook the tender leaves with mung beans as a soup.

[ulterior epicure]

Chilli pepper belong to the nightshade family and yet the leaves are edible. We cook the tender leaves with mung beans as a soup.

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Uh, coming from one who names himself "Fugu," I'm not sure I find this reassuring.

[GlorifiedRice]

Do the leaves you bought look like this:

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/comm...tato_plants.jpg

Or this:

http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/6018/12...00/IMG_6414.jpg

Top: Potato ... Bottom: Sweet Potato

[ulterior epicure]

Make no mistake about it, they were potato-looking like stems and leaves.

I ended up cooking them and eating them last night. I'm still typing.

[Fugu]

I ended up cooking them and eating them last night.  I'm still typing.

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Taste like chicken?

[Sony]

Kim O'Donnel from the Washington Post wrote a nice blog entry a little while ago about sweet potato greens.

Kim on Sweet Tater Greens

What did you do with them? Please describe process and outcome ...

Edited November 9, 2007 by Sony (log)

[andiesenji]

As long as they were sold in a store, they should be safe.

Just don't go picking your own.