Edible luffa

Luffa acutangula, L. aegyptiaca

vegetable

The young, elongated fruit of the sponge gourd, a climbing plant probably native to India, with mild flesh; stir-fried or in soups in Chinese, Vietnamese and Indian cooking.

Origin

Tropical Asia

Season (United States)

July to October

Preparation

Young, it is peeled or scraped along its ridges; older, it turns fibrous and is no longer eaten.

Did you know?

Ripe and dried, the same fruit becomes a plant sponge; it is grown today mainly in Japan, India and Egypt.