Padi

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Padi is the foundation of which much of the Sol System builds their meal. As a base or as a side, the humble grain promises to be filling and nourishing. The grains are milled and boiled for consumption, creating a fluffy and pleasant source of protein and carbohydrates. It is also refined into padi flour, and into transluscent padi gum, a colourless and flavourless substance that helps food to stiffen. One of the most iconic images of Mars is that of terrace fields carved into red hills. As a semi-aquatic plant, padi grows best in submerged fields. The plant takes well to hydroponic shelves as well. Its ability to thrive in orbit and even zero-g makes padi is an essential part of the spacefaring diet.

The Perfect Food

Few foods have been studied and experimented on as much as padi, and it may well be one of the most modified foods in the Sol System. Almost all padi is fortified, and it serves well as a carrier of essential minerals and vitamins. There is a fortified padi for every dietary concern, and even medical padi formulated to treat certain conditions. The most luxurious padi modifications are grown in perfect conditions aboard Martian arcologies, and pollinated by highly specialized drones. There is constant research into how padi can be refined into the perfect food, a single ingredient that serves all dietary needs. The finest meal replacements are upwards of 95% padi, with plentiful flavour and texture options.