Is This Vegetable THAT Uncommon?

[ronandannette]

Thanks. I was never sure exactly what people did with them, and never bothered to look it up. I only see them around Christmas.

The purple, orange, and green caulifowers look cute. I'm tempted to try them, genetically modified or not.

You're playing right into their hands...

 

[Dis703]

Looks like Chinese chives.

Nope, not Chinese chives. Although I have no idea what they would look like myself.

 

[MataHari22]

I was thinking of posting a photo of fennel, but I thought too many people would recognize it quickly.



St. Joseph's Day, March 19, was big in Polish neighborhoods too. But I don't think fennel was associated with it.

I occasionally roast fennel with other vegetables in a mustard sauce. It's in one of my Barefoot Contessa cookbooks.

I don't think it's so much that it's fennel that is associated with St. Joseph's day, it's more about that it's a fish dish, and eating no meat.

This is close to what was in my great gram's Pasta con le Sarde, except her recipe had tomato purée in it. But it looks like all the other ingredients are the same. http://www.mangiabenepasta.com/stjoseph_pasta.html I didn't really like the sardines in it. She would often make me just some Pasta Aglio et Olio (pasta with garlic and oil). The other staples for the dinner would be stuffed artichokes, a St. Joseph's Day bread (which was made with semolina) and my favorite dessert she used to make, St. Joseph Cream Puffs (Sfingi di San Giuseppe). https://www.washingtonpost.com/pb/recipes/sfingi-di-san-giuseppe-st-joseph-cream-puffs/13944/ She would fry her's though. Out of everything I miss as far as her cooking goes, these babies are at the top of the list.

I didn't realize St. Joseph's Day was a big thing in the Polish community, too. The roasted veggies with mustard sauce sounds good.

 

[Topper]

And not technically a veggie, but an unusual produce item.

View attachment 144026

Those would be garlic scapes

 

[MataHari22]

Nope, not Chinese chives. Although I have no idea what they would look like myself.

Then they are scapes. I think they are the same, or all related, or I had the wrong name. Lol

 

[MataHari22]

Those would be garlic scapes

You beat me. Snuck in there where I was posting.

 

[tefrench]

Does anyone know this one? I used to eat in a soup as a child.

 

[ronandannette]

Okay, now I want to post a few of the more unusual veggies we've had.

Here's one.

Any winner on this one yet? I'm saying horseradish.

 

[Diznygrl]

Okay, now I want to post a few of the more unusual veggies we've had.

Here's one.

Looks like daikon radish.

 

[MataHari22]

Does anyone know this one? I used to eat in a soup as a child.

Looks like salsify, but I thought someone posted it already.

 

[MataHari22]

Here's one that I thought was well known, but apparently, it's not well known where I live, since I used it at two parties that I catered, and put it on the veggie trays and no one knew what it was. In fact, everyone was asking what it was. Was quite the conversation starter. It was pretty funny.

 

[tefrench]

Looks like salsify, but I thought someone posted it already.

Oops, my bad! We always called the soup "oyster stew."

 

[MataHari22]

Oops, my bad! We always called the soup "oyster stew."

Yes, I guess some people call it oyster plant, right? I have never seen it where I live, but if I ever do, I'd like to try and cook with it.

 

[RedAngie]

You're playing right into their hands...

Unfortunately, I'm easily manipulated by pretty things. How about if I just buy them to display in my fridge?

View attachment 144183

Here's one that I thought was well known, but apparently, it's not well known where I live, since I used it at two parties that I catered on the veggie trays and no one knew what it was. In fact, everyone was asking what it was. Was quite the conversation starter. It was pretty funny.

Jicama?


I bought this obscure vegetable earlier tonight.

 

[MataHari22]

@RedAngie ~ yep! It's jicama.

 

[leebee]

Recognized the daikon and jicama, but have no idea about what looks like woody carrots- is that salsify? I don't think I've ever seen that in the markets around here.

 

[NewRVLady]

I LOVE parsnips. I put them in soups and roast them with outer root veggies. Passover matza ball soup wouldn't be the same without parnsips!

My turn: (this veggie couldn't be identified by the cashier of Whole Foods, the only place where I can find these delicious nuggets)

I used to buy these pickled in a jar and LOVED them...I thought they were just regular Artichoke hearts-till I read the label

 

[Dis703]

Those would be garlic scapes

Yes! They are a rare find as they are harvested only once during the year and not found in grocery stores. So not many people seem to have ever seen or heard of them.

 

[Dis703]

Then they are scapes. I think they are the same, or all related, or I had the wrong name. Lol

Not related. There is such a thing as garlic chives that are likely related to Chinese chives.

Garlic scapes are actually part of the garlic plant. They are long tube like things that grow off the top of the bulb and will flower if let alone. But they are chopped off in the spring to produce better bulbs. But they can be used in just about any way garlic can and are a nice mild garlic flavor. I've never seen them around here outside of our CSA, but if you can ever get ahold of them they are quite a treat.

 

[Dis703]

Any winner on this one yet? I'm saying horseradish.

Daikon Radish also known as Chinese radish. Someone else got it. First time these showed up in my farm share I wasn't sure what the heck it was. Parsnip or white carrot? Made the mistake of taking a taste to find out. Yuck! I don't care for regular radish either. I have a friend from Japan who loves them and they are hard to find in local markets so I give them all to her now.