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Eru Leaves

Eru leaves are leafy greens used in cooked vegetable stews, particularly in parts of Central and West Africa.

Eru Leaves — illustrative ingredient image

About Eru Leaves

Eru leaves are edible leafy greens known as eru and used in cooked dishes in parts of Central and West Africa. The name can refer to regionally different plant material, so it is best treated as a culinary name rather than assigned to one botanical species. The leaves are commonly incorporated into substantial vegetable stews.

They are generally chopped and simmered with other greens, seasonings, cooking liquid, and sometimes meat or fish. Their flavour and texture depend on the particular leaves, their maturity, whether they are fresh or dried, and how long they cook. Simmering usually makes chopped leaves softer and allows them to mingle with the stew.

Eru may be encountered fresh, dried, or packaged. Fresh leaves can be sorted, trimmed, washed, and chopped before cooking. Dried leaves may need soaking or rinsing and can require longer simmering to soften. The finished dish may range from loose and leafy to dense and stew-like, depending on the recipe.

Ingredient type
whole food

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Where eru leaves appears

1 linked foods

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Main dishes

Ingredient connections awaiting review · Coverage is still growing, including packaged snacks.

Name examples awaiting language review. Confirm the specific food or product.

Local names for eru leaves

Names and romanised forms to recognise on menus and labels.

English

Eru Leaves

Available names only. Languages may be spoken in other countries; a name alone does not identify every ingredient in a dish.

Eru Leaves nutrition & diet

Eru Leaves nutritional value

Wild spinach, leaves, fresh, raw — WAFCT 04_080

Per 100 g of the edible portion in the named food form.

Calories
45kcal
Protein
5.1g
Carbs
2.5g
Fat
0.7g

Per 100 g edible portion. Source: Vincent et al., FAO/INFOODS Food Composition Table for Western Africa (2019). Carbohydrate is available carbohydrate calculated by difference; square-bracketed fat in the source uses continuous-extraction analysis. Values describe this reference form, not every recipe, cultivar or preparation.

Portions & preparation

Establish the plant identity and edible form before using a nutrition reference: fresh, dried, frozen, or processed eru leaves may not be interchangeable. Assess trimmed leaves separately from the stew, palm oil, meat, fish, stock, or other ingredients commonly used in preparation.

Compare the right form: Match the verified eru species and form—fresh, dried, frozen, or cooked leaves—with stems and preparation ingredients identified; local naming requires confirmation.

Diet considerations

Eru leaves are described as plant-derived leafy greens, but the exact species and local preparation should be confirmed. Plain leaves suit plant-based patterns; stews may include beef, fish, shellfish, stock, palm oil, or other additions. Ground, dried, or packaged products may also contain undisclosed recipe ingredients.

AI-authored reading notes · Awaiting editorial review. Measured values, where available, have a separate source above.

Dietary compatibility

  • Vegan
    Typically compatible
  • Vegetarian
    Typically compatible
  • Pescatarian
    Typically compatible
  • Keto
    Depends on the version
  • Paleo
    Typically compatible
  • Low-carb
    Depends on the version
  • Halal
    Not established
  • Kosher
    Not established
What these diet assessments mean
Vegan · Typically compatible
The plain ingredient profile is plant, fungal or mineral based. Added ingredients in a prepared product need a separate check.
Vegetarian · Typically compatible
The plain ingredient profile is plant, fungal or mineral based. Added ingredients in a prepared product need a separate check.
Pescatarian · Typically compatible
The plain ingredient profile is plant, fungal or mineral based. Added ingredients in a prepared product need a separate check.
Keto · Depends on the version
Compatibility depends on the portion and preparation. A sourced carbohydrate amount for a defined serving is not available.
Paleo · Typically compatible
The plain form fits the conventional paleo food groups. Added ingredients and individual interpretations can differ.
Low-carb · Depends on the version
Compatibility depends on the portion and preparation. A sourced carbohydrate amount for a defined serving is not available.
Halal · Not established
Sourcing, processing and any applicable certification have not been verified. A food name alone does not establish halal status.
Kosher · Not established
Sourcing, processing and any applicable certification have not been verified. A food name alone does not establish kosher status.

For the plain ingredient · Awaiting review. Diet compatibility is not allergy suitability or halal/kosher certification. Keto and low-carb depend on the portion.

Reviewed ingredient entryIngredient reference · Preparations vary

AI-generated illustration for visual context. It does not identify a particular product or establish allergen content.

Sources & review

Nutrition reference: FAO/INFOODS Food Composition Table for Western Africa (2019) — 04_080 ↗. Values are scaled from 100 g of the recorded edible form. Individual portions have no assumed fixed weight.

Expanded overview, name examples and nutrition notes are database drafts awaiting editorial review. Numeric nutrition values, where shown, have their own source and food-form reference.

The ingredient description and dish connections come from the draft catalogue and may change after review.

Last recorded verification: .