ALSO KNOWN AS

Silk Squash, Sponge Gourd, Luffa

PERSONALITY

That quiet kid in class who's low key good at everything

PERKS

Patola is technically a fruit, but its culinary preparations are closer to that of a vegetable. With only 20 calories per 100g, it's one of our favorite things to munch on when we're trying to get our summer bods back. Its delicate, sponge-like flesh is rich in antioxidants like carotenes, lutein, and crypto-xanthins. Particularly high in fiber, Patola reduces the amount of bad cholesterol in the bloodstream while speeding up digestion and your metabolism. It's also filled with much-needed minerals like calcium, iron, zinc, potassium, manganese, and magnesium.

USES

When cooked, Patola has a mild, delicate flavor that's the perfect addition to soups and stir-fries. In the Philippines, we usually have them in dishes called ginisang patola and almondigas. They also go wonderfully with tomato and onion!