The barilla plant or opposite-leaved saltwort grows near the coast on mostly salty soil. In the past, the plant was very important for the production of potash, which is important in the kitchen as a leavening agent for bakery products, but above all in the glass industry and as a bleaching agent.

Today, opposite-leaved saltwort is used rather as a leaf vegetable. In spring the whole, still young plants are harvested and offered in bundles at markets. Only the green, knitting needle-like leaves are used. These can be eaten raw or blanched and fried. The leaves remain crisp and taste slightly salty and very aromatic.

• Edible Leaves
• Culinary Group Leaf vegetables Plant ashes
• Taste salty
• Trivial Names Mönchsbart, Agretti, Opposite-leaved saltwort, Oppositeleaf Russian thistle, Friar's beard, Barilla plant, Barrilla, Barba di frate, Liscari sativa, Lischi, Lischeri, Soude commune
• Size 20 cm
• Taxonomy Amaranthaceae (amaranth family) Salsola soda
• Origin Mediterraneum (Map)
• Locality Kleinmarkthalle Frankfurt 2018