Walking around the UAE with Chef New has always been a mini education in plant-life and all things organic. She’ll stop in front of roadside trees and shrubs and say: “Did you know this / that….” literally every few minutes and talk for hours about how much food there is on the streets that a lot of westerners walk past every day and don’t know about - such as local Basil (Kra Pao), South East Asian Spinach, Acacia, Pumpkin, Bitterguard and Neem. You can find these and so many more all over the UAE - even in car parks and construction sites
-
Whilst looking for one of our street cats last night Chef New came across a huge Neem Tree สะเดา (Sadaow) near a construction site and climbed up it [in flip flops] to grab a few handfuls of the leaves. As well as being a popular and abundant vegetable in Thailand it’s also used as an organic pesticide. Chef New swears by it for a healthy garden.
-
It’s quick and easy to make. Learn how in 60 seconds!
-
NB: Always ask permission for a few leaves before taking! 
Neem! Neem! Neem!