Tuesday, March 13, 2012

List of most common vegetables in Nepal (Nepali-English)

List of most common vegetables in Nepal (Nepali-English)

Vegetables (Tarkaari)

Nepal has a complex topography with hills and flat lands, and the Kathmandu valley is renowned for the seasonal vegetables grown in its fertile soil.  Vegetables (tarkaari) are one of the most important foods in the daily Nepali diet, and a typical Nepali meal consists of rice, lentils, and some kind of side vegetable dish.

The most common vegetables include green beans, cauliflowers, cabbage, eggplants, greens (mustard, spinach), okra, potatoes, Nepali radish, squash, tomatoes and many other seasonal local vegetables.  Due to the scarcity of cultivated land in many rural and hilly areas of Nepal, fresh vegetables are limited, so locals tend to consume root vegetables as well as dried and fermented vegetables.  Generally, green leafy vegetables such as spinach and mustard greens are eaten daily in large quantities wherever available.  Vegetables are also made into pickles, salads, snacks, and desserts.

During the peak season, you may see a local farmer balancing a bamboo pole across his shoulders, holding two wicker woven baskets full of freshly picked vegetables, heading to the market.  In Nepali vegetable markets, one can experience the proud skills of vendors arranging every tiny space with a dramatic display of vegetables and fruits.  Greens, such as spinach, mustard, fresh coriander, and garden cress are neatly tied in small bundles and piled up in a beautiful way.  A variety of dry vegetables such as potatoes, onions, and shallots are skillfully arranged in a wicker trays, or baskets or in jute-burlap sacks.  On many street corners, vendors set up small stands with the fresh fruits and vegetables such as green gooseberry, labsi (Hog plum), guava, or tangerines.  The vegetables are sold in the markets weighted in a hand-held local scale, known as taraaju, which comes in a variety of sizes and forms.  Measurements are done in kilograms.  Most Nepali households do not store vegetables, so they are bought fresh every day.

In my next blog, I will try to post more information, scientific names,  and the pictures (when available) of Nepali vegetables. 


·     Alu – (Potato)
·     Aduwa - (Ginger)
·     Banda Gobi - (Cabbage)
·     Bhantaa - (Brinjal, Egg plant, Aubergine)
·     Bhende Khursani - (Bell Pepper, Sweet Pepper)
·     Brokauli - (Broccoli)
·     Bodi - (Beans)
·     Chatel - (Momordica cochinchinensis)
·     Chanaa, Hariyo - (Green Bengal Gram)
·     Chau - (Mushrooms)
·     Chichindo - (Serpent or Snake Gourd)
·     Dundu ko Saag - (Chinese Leek - Allium Tubersum Rotter)
·     Gajar -(Carrot)
·     Golebheda -  (Tomato)
o    Sano Golbheda - (Cherry Tomato)a
o    Tumbe Golbheda - (Pear tomato)
·     Guliyo Moola – Chukander - ( Beet Roots)
·     Gyanth Govi - Kohlrabi
·     Imli - (Tamarind)
·     Kaankro - (Cucumber)
o    Asare Kaankro – Common Field Cucumber 
       Bhadaure Kaankro – Garden Cucumber 
o    Kakdi - Snake or Serpent Cucumber
·     Karela, Tito - (Bitter Gourd, Balsam Pear)
·     Katahar - (Jack Fruit)
·     Kauli, Phulgobhi - (Cauliflower)
·     Kerau or Matar - (Garden Peas)
o    Sano Kerau - (Field Peas)
·     Khursani - (Chili Pepper)
o    Bhende Khursani - (Bell Pepper)
o    Dhokre Khursani - (Long Pepper)
o    Chuchche Khursani - (Cone Pepper)
o    Jhine Khorsani - (Cluster Pepper)
o    Jyanmara Khursani - (Cherry Pepper)
o    Jire Khorsani - (Bird’s Eye Chili, Bird Pepper)
·     Lauka - (Bottle Gourd, Calabash)
·     Moola - (Radish)
·     Moola ko Duku -  (Radish Shoots)
·     Nigalo Tusha - (Himalayan Bamboo)
·     Pharsi - (Gourd, Pumpkin)
·     Pyaz - (Onion)
·     Raamtoriya - (Okra, Ladies Finger)
·     Salegum - (Turnip)
·     Salegum ko Saag - (Turnip Greens)
·     Sakhar Khand - (Sweet Potato)
·     Sunp - (Dill)
·     Simi - (Beans)
o    Hiunde Simi - (Hyacinth Bean)
o    Tarware Simi - (Jack Bean, Sward Bean)
o    Kause Simi - (Velvet Bean, Horse-Eye Bean)
·     Sipligan - (Garlic Pear)
·     Tarul – (Casavaa, Tapioca)
o    Ghar Tarul - (Yam)
o    Bana Tarul - (Wild Edible Yam)
·     Taama Bans - (Bamboo)
·     Thotne - (Vegetable Smart Weed) - (Polygonum)
·     Tinda - Round Gourd
·     Tyammatar - (TreeTomato)

Index of Green Leafy Vegetables - Hariyo Saag-Paat Haru - (हरियो साग-पात हरु)

The following list of Hariyo Saag in Nepali-English, will further help you to understand more on the vegetables of Nepal.  I am so glad to be able to compile the list and present to you in my blog. In the following list as well as in my previous blog on "the visual guide to the greens," I have not been able to match some of the English name of the greens. I wish I had a good plant-identification guide book about Nepali greens.  I trust the index is useful to you, but please let me know in the comment section of the blog what I missed.  I would deeply appreciate your feedback - so that I can revise and make corrections.

(Nepali to English)
Baabari, Pudina - (बाबरी  को साग) - Common Mint
Bethe ko Saag - (बेथे को साग) - Lamb's Quarter
Bengali Palungo ko Saag - (बंगाली पालुंगो) -  Beet root
Bhirin ko Saag - (भिरिन को साग)
Bhote Paalungo - (भोटे पालुंगो) - Garden Sorrel, Bladder Dock
Bok Choy or Paak Choy -  (बक चोय अथवा पाक चोय)
Chatel ko Munta ko Saag - (चटेल को मुन्टा को साग) -  Indian Gourd, Kantola Shoots
Chhayapi ko Saag - (छायापी को साग) - Shallot Greens
Chamsoor ko Saag - (चम्सूर को साग) - Garden Cress
Dhania ko Paat or Saag (Hariyo) -  (धनियाँको साग) - Fresh Coriander or Cilantro
Dundu ko Saag - (दुन्डू को साग) - Chinese Leek
Gante Moola ko Saag or Dalle Moola ko Saag - (गानते मुलाको साग, डल्ले मुलाको साग) - Turnips Greens
Gobre Paalungo ko Saag - (गोब्रे पालुंगो को साग) -  Spinach Variety
Gande ko Saag - (गन्दे को साग)
Halhale ko Saag - (हलहले को साग)
Iskush ko Munta ko Saag -  (इस्कुश को मुन्टा को साग) - Chayote Greens
Karkalo ko Paat -  (कर्कलो को पात, कर्कलो को साग) - Taro Leaves - Karkalo-Gaava-Pidhaalu - (कर्कलो-गाभा-पिँडालु)
Kal Tori ko Saag -  (कालतोरी को साग) - Black Mustard
Kane Saag - (काने साग)
Kaauli ko Saag - (काउली को साग) - Cauliflower Greens
Karmaiya Saag - (कर्मैया को साग) - Water Bindweed, Swamp Cabbage
Keraau ko Muntaa ko Saag - (केराउ को मुन्टा को साग) - Pea Vine Shoots
Kel ko Saag -  (क़ेल को साग) - Kale
Laal Saag - (लाल साग) - Amaranth
Latte to Saag - (लट्टे को साग) - Amaranth
Laaphe Saag - लाफे को साग - Vegetable Mallow  Poppy Mallow
Lasun ko Saag - (लसुन को साग) - (Green Garlic)
Lunde ko Saag - (लुन्ड़े को साग) - Redroot Pigwood - (different variety Pahadi Lunde, Kande Lunde)
Lataree ko Saag - (लटरी को साग)
Methi ko Paat or Saag - (मेथी को साग) -  Fenugreek leaves
Moolaa (Mulaa) ko Saag - (मूला को साग) - Radish Greens
Moolaa (Mulaa) ko Duku re Saag - (मूला को दुकु र साग) - Radish Shoots and Leaves
Neuro - (न्यूरो को साग) - Edible Fern Shoots
Phaapar ko Saag - (फापर को साग) - Buck-wheat Greens
Patuwaa ko Saag - (पटुवा को साग) - (Tossa Jute)
Pharsi ko Muntaa - (फर्सी को मुन्टा) - Pumpkin Vine shoots
Pooi or Poi ko Saag - (पोई को साग) - Indian Spinach, Malabar Night Shade
Pahaadi Lunde - (पहाडी लुन्ड़े को  साग)
Paalungo ko Saag - (पालुंगो को साग) - Common Spinach
Raayo ko Saag - (रायो को साग) - Leaf Mustard
Raayo ko Duku re Saag - (रायो को दुकु र साग) - Leaf Mustard Shoots
Saunf or Sunp ko Saag - (सुप को साग) - Fresh Dill Greens
Salgam ko Saag - (सलगम को साग) - Kohlrabi Greens
Sishnu or Sisnu ko Saag - (सिस्नु को साग) - Nettle Greens - (Lekali Sisnu, Thulo Sisnu, Bhangre Sisnu)
Sim Rayo - (सिम रायो) - Water Cress
Sarwari Saag - (सर्वारी साग) - Quail Grass
Siplikan - सिप्लिकान - Garlic Pear
Salad ko Saag or Paat - (लेट्तुस -  सलाद को साग) - Curly Leaf Lettuce
Tori ko Saag - (तोरी को साग)- Indian Rape
Tike Paalungo - (टिके पालुंगो) - Garden Beet

To find out some of the vegetables that are not included in my leafy vegetable blog or Index,  please  go to the field survey on the "Traditional, Neglected Vegetables of Nepal: The Sustainable Utilization for Meeting Human Needs" ......In total, 184 traditional vegetable species were recorded in the field survey. Species composition and numbers differed along the elevation gradient". About 50 traditional vegetable species were documented in the market surveys......to read the research paper, please check here....http://www.tropentag.de/2007/abstracts/links/Kehlenbeck_Cah3sjNR.pdf

111 comments:

  1. I am from Orissa, a state in eastern part of India. Many of the vegetable names are so similar to Oriya!

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    1. how nice.... oriya and nepali...
      i bet there r other things similar between these two cultures.

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    2. because we r close by many maens

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  2. hey!

    I was trying to tell few of my american frens bout the vegetables we have back home(Nepal) n was having a hard time trying figure em out in english ..or more common names in their part of the world.. and bumped in to your blog..this so far has taken few hours heheh and am enjoying most of it.. heheheh i try and cook nepalese food with variation ..kinda of.. just wanted to thank you for the effort.. trying to get you book..
    Arun

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    1. Namaskar and thank you so much Gurungji. I really appreciate your comment and will try to add pictures and more informations on Nepali vegetables listed here.

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  3. Hi Jyoti,
    What is Kale ( vegetable) called in Nepali or Hindi?

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  4. Kale ko Saag (केलको साग) is the Nepali name of Kale.
    It is not very familiar vegetable in Nepal, but has been cultivated in Kathmandu valley since a very recent past. I have not seen the fresh Kale for sale at Nepali vegetable market or farm-stand in Nepal.

    Common name: Kale, Borecole
    Bot. Name: Brassica Oleracea L. var. acephala, DC
    Family: Cruciferae
    Source: An Introduction to Nepalese Food Plants by Regmi

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    1. you you want Kale, you can contact me. We got this product fresh from our own farm.

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    2. I want Kale. Searching for far too long. Thankyou Jyoti for such a helpful blog. Gajendea ji how can i get this? 9849344280 my contact.

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  5. Hi Jytoti,
    Thanks for the English term for Nepali vegetables. Got to learn a lot.
    Is Rayo a mustard? I always thought tori is mustard. Remember we say tori ko tel, mustard oil, and not rayo ko tel.

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    1. Thank you so much Nikki for your comment. Let me try to answer your question - Tori ko tel (mustard oil) is well known for its unique and strong smell and extracted from mustard seeds. There are many varieties of mustard seeds. I was told that Tori mustard (Indian Rape varieties) are cultivated for oil seeds.

      Common name: Indian Rape
      Bot. name Brassica Campestris, L. Var.toria Duth & Full
      Family: Cruciferae
      Cultivated as the oil seed corp of Nepal

      For further information, please check the following link -
      http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mustard_oil

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    2. Me too..after reading your blog found out mustard greens are Rayo Ko saag Hheee Thankyou for your effort.

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    3. In Nepal Tori is known as mustard but in other parts of the world Rayo is known as mustard. So rayo Ko seed is actually considered mustard seed as opposed to mustard seeds we knew growing up. Just the difference of regions.

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  6. What is called bee(tito huncha)in english

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  7. wow this list was very helpful, thanks for making it!

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  8. thank x,
    your vegetable list help me on my work, it might be little hard to work & collect but your still have to visit. lots other were still undiscovered in yours. Its not complement but you did the great job.

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    1. Thank you Kamal Giriji for your kind comments. I would like to request you to share the other vegetables names lists, that it is not covered here. Please post it in the comment section of this blog, so that we can learn from you.

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  9. hi, its me shankar paudel from gaindakot, nawalparasi. i am a M.Sc.Ag student at TU, IAAS, kirtipur kathmandu Nepal and my subject is horticulture. As a student of horticulture, i was searching some information about vegetable in nepal. luckly i found your blog. it is very nice to those who wants to know about vegetable in Nepal with Nepali lockal name and nepali culture. Thank you for providing such information. I am very glad to know about you. I expect more and more information in future. I want to be closed with you so that we can share our knowledge and information.

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    1. Namaskar Shankar Paudel - Sorry for replying late. Thank you for visiting my blog and posting such a wonderful comment. Please visit my Facebook page and Twitter for regular update and news about Taste of Nepal.....

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  10. I had to search the foods to avoid or take since my father is taking blood thinning medicine warfarin. But obviously, could not search google with local nepali names. But your blog has been really helpful for searching with your nepali-english names. The pictures are also a big help. It has really made it very easy to search and not be confused or second guess whether to avoid or eat something. Thanks for creating this blog and writing such clear informative articles. Really appreciate it. :-)

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    1. Thank you Labu - It is great to know that you found my "List of Common Vegetables" helpful.Check back again for new entries! Best wishes to your father and Namaste to him.

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  11. jyoti pathak ,, hi and hello.. i am sonam from boudha tusal..

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  12. i am very interested in about in garden,,, so can we share something from you... this is my facebook id.. annuson@gmail.com ...

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  13. Left Nepal when I was teenager. Being a vegetable lover, I always crave for Nepali vegetables and to used struggle a lot to find it's English name. You blog has helped me a lot. I adore your hard work. CHEERS!!!

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    1. Hi Saru Regmi - Thank you for posting such a wonderful comment. Please check back again for new entries and visit my Facebook page and Twitter for regular updates and news about Taste of Nepal.....

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    2. i am new to blogging how can i find your facebook id?

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  14. 3 cheers!!!! For ur hard work. I hd been googling to find out english name for nepali vegetables and spices. Finally i found ur blog. This is awesome!! Thank you

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  15. :
    Great !!! thank you for uploding such :) i had tried 1 ( http://agroecoilam.blogspot.com/ )

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  16. Looks fantastic...Thanks for sharing this post. I like this very much.Pakistani Grocery Store Broward

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  17. धेरै-धेरै धन्यवाद तपाइलाई , धेरै उपयोगी जानकारी लाई लिपि बद्द गरि दिनु भए को मा- द्रोण निरौला , गाबोन-अफ्रीका

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  18. hi jyoti
    i have been searching for the Nepali translation of "Dry Kelp" but i haven't found it. and also could you suggest me where i can buy "Dry Kelp" in Kathmandu? it would be very helpful. Thanks for listing the English-Nepali name of the vegetable. your work is so appreciable. Thumbs up for your work.....

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    1. Please give me more information about "Dry Kelp"???

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    2. click the following link for more information about the kelp: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kelp
      would you reply little bit faster cause you replied so late; it's been almost 2 months i thought you wouldn't reply me indeed you did!!!. anyway thanks for your concerned.

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    3. Namaskar Bishal.....Thank you for the information. I really appreciate it. I was in the remote part of Nepal for 3 months (no internet, no electricity), could not post anything or reply anyone...now I am catching up....Thanks!

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  19. hii jyoti,
    what is raayo ko saag exactly in English ?

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  20. this site is very usefull for me to get information. i can not stop myself to write. i m very happy of it. very very than you.

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  21. Hi Jyoti
    very useful site, in above replies u have mentioned about ur facebook page shall i add it in my list.

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  23. Where do I get Amaranth seed in kathmandu valley ?? Could u please reply ASAP .. Its for my thesis purpose ..

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    1. Did you try Nepal Agricultural Research Council at Khumaltar, near Satdobato? They usually have many different rare plants and if they don't, they would know where you could find in Kathmandu. Good luck!

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  24. Can Kale be cultivated in Kathmandu and what is it called in Nepali and where is it available?

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  25. Dear Jyoti, If (possible) you could modify the List by adding farming seasons and harvesting time along with suitable climates, that would be extremely helpful for every one.

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    1. .....I will do my best to find the information about farming season and harvesting.......thank you for suggestion.

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  26. Hi There,

    I have come to this website time and again for help with many vegetables that I don't recognize while trying recipes from the internet :) And I want to thank you for taking time to put this list together and keep it updated.

    For the first time I have not been able to find a vegetable not listed here: "Arugula" is what I am looking for. Could you please help me with this?

    Thanks!

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  27. hi there,

    i am looking for vegetables that i can grow in my small kitchen garden. what vegetables to plant month-wise in Kathmandu? what are relatively easy for harvest for a beginner?
    regards,

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  28. Great stuff!!! Helped a lot!!! I just came here for the meaning of spinach in nepali, but got to learn more...

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  29. Great job. It will be great help for me if you have the lists of some vegetable seed suppliers located in Katmandu valley, Kavre and sindhupalchock . I'm looking
    for that also.

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    1. Thank you for commenting...I am just a food writer and a blogger, please contact the proper authority who supplies vegetable seeds in Nepal.

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    2. Aindra Rai,
      contact me I think I can help you. Moreover I think we can be helpful to each other by sharing information we have. Feel free to contact me at 44gurpreet@gmail.com Today at last of this post i have also posted query about information i need kindly go through it, maybe you can help me.
      Dr. Gurpreet S.

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  30. Thank you for the details,
    It is really useful.

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  31. Dear Joyti,


    As said by all Its nice and useful information. Though most of vegetable names are somewhat similar to Indian names. But I was amazed to see some have stark differences like RAAMTORI . Actually I am Agri Economics Prof in India. I am doing a UN project in fruits and vegetables and incharge for SAARC countries. I would like some information like main big cities of Nepal that have bigger wholesale vegetables and fruits mandis/markets. Secondly can you tell me from where can I get stats of daily and monthly consumptions of vegetables and fruits, name wise. Please if anyone can help conatact at 44gurpreet@gmail.com. And Joyti hope you wont mind adding me to your buddies list.
    Thanks and keep it up.

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    1. Appreciate reading my blog and commenting. Tanks!

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  34. Thank you for such a comprehensive list! I may be departing for Nepal for over two years with the Peace Corps as an agriculturalist, can't tell you how glad I was to have found this!

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    1. Thank you so much Connor John for checking my page. Comments like yours make all the work worthwhile and encourages people to do further more.....

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  35. Babari is Vietnamese basil and pudina is mint. Is what my mom said

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  37. what is called munga or sohijan in english?

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  38. A very helpful page. Could you tell what is arugula called in nepali? Thanking you.

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    1. Thank you for commenting. I am sorry I do not have Nepali name for arugula - if someone can help with this ... will appreciate. Thanks!

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    2. The seeds of arugula (Latin: Eruca sativa) are pressed into an oil called taramira oil or jamba oil. The seeds are also known as gargeer or jarjeer; this name for the plant is taken from Arabic, but is also used in India. Perhaps this helps!

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    3. Also, according to the linked website, the Nepali name for arugula is भंग. Hope this helps!

      https://studysite.org/dictionary/english-to-nepali?word=arugula

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  39. Jyoti Jee, Could you please share the Nepali name of celery. Is it avilable in Nepal ? Whether curry leaf also available in Nepal ?

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    1. According to the linked website, Nepali has a few different names for celery. One is like the English word: सेलरी; one comes from Hindi: अजवाइन; and one is all its own: अजःमू. Hope this helps!

      https://studysite.org/dictionary/Nepali-meaning-of-celery

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  42. Wow..amazing great work....thank you for the info abt vegetables in Nepali as well as in English..

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  45. Filungay in nepali...it is pressed to extract oil and solid residue is made filungay ko aachar. What it is called in English please. It was nice going thrugh the blog...very useful

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  46. Sorry I am not able to recognize filungay???

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  47. may I know, Is green Mung bean sprout,pea spout and soya bean sprout widely consume by Nepali

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    1. Yes! We use all kind of sprouted beans, peas and lentils... a mixed bean soup is called Quanti or kwanti soup is very popular food item served with rice.

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  48. really helpful..brother of mine has a nepali typical restaurant in thamel called paleti bhancha ghar ..he was having difficulties with the english names to tell his foreigner guests.this is so helpful to him.thank u so much and keep on posting spices as well with pixs .

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    1. Thank you for your kind words! I appreciate your comment... namaste!

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  49. Grest, Its really helpful. Thank you for your effort.

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  50. Nice Information For vegetable blog comment . keep up the Good Work . Thank you

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  51. कति राम्रो काम । I really appreciate your effort.

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  52. What is the nepali name of celery, parsley and thyme in nepali?

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  53. Thanks for your post this means alot for the completion of Nursery Project on glance.

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  54. Replies
    1. Thank you for stopping by and reading my blog! Namaste!

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  55. What is the scientific name for gande Ko jara(root)

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  56. What is the common/scientific name of bee plant?

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    1. Bee vegetable or bii vegetable is known as Solanum aethiopicum or simply African eggplant. For more names you can visit https://listnepal.com/nepali-vegetables-english-names/

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