Nadan chena is the Elephant Foot Yam ( Amorphophallus paeoniifolius ) and is particularly a variety native to Kerala, India. The word “nadan” in Malayalam means “local” or “native”.
Key features of nadan chena:
- It is a tuber crop, much like a potato, and is a popular and nutritious vegetable in South Asian cuisine.
- It is a good source of fiber and vitamins.
- The vegetable is used in various traditional dishes in Kerala, such as theeyal, sambar, and mezhukkupuratti (a type of stir-fry).
- When preparing chena, it is often soaked or cooked with acidic ingredients like tamarind to prevent any itching caused by the naturally occurring calcium oxalate crystals.
