Vegetable Assortment
Chestnuts present a multitude of culinary possibilities, as they can be enjoyed candied, boiled, steamed, grilled, or roasted, adding their unique flavor to both sweet and savory dishes. They serve as excellent stuffing for vegetables, poultry, and other dishes. Whether fresh, dried, ground, or canned—whole or in purée form—chestnuts offer versatility and flavor enhancement to a wide array of recipes.
Chestnuts
Hailing from the mountainous terrain of the Mexican states of Puebla and Hidalgo, the Serrano pepper is a variety of chili pepper. Its flavor is characterized by a crisp, vibrant quality with a biting heat, surpassing that of its Jalapeño counterpart, which it closely resembles. Serrano peppers are commonly consumed raw to fully savor their intense flavor and heat.
Pepper- Chile Serrano
Cubanelle peppers, renowned for their sweetness, differ from bell peppers with their slender profile, thinner flesh, and slightly wrinkled appearance. These peppers are integral to Puerto Rican cuisine, where they are utilized extensively for their unique flavor and texture.
Pepper- Cubanelle
Edible flowers refer to flowers suitable for consumption. These blossoms can be preserved for later use through methods like drying, freezing, or infusing in oil. They lend themselves to a variety of culinary applications, including beverages, jellies, salads, soups, syrups, and main courses.
Flowers- Edible Assortment
Edible flowers refer to flowers suitable for consumption. These blossoms can be preserved for later use through methods like drying, freezing, or infusing in oil. They lend themselves to a variety of culinary applications, including beverages, jellies, salads, soups, syrups, and main courses.
Flowers- Edible Orchids
Chinese eggplants are distinguished by their thinner skins and subtle flavor compared to their American counterparts. They typically contain fewer seeds, which can contribute bitterness to eggplants. Generally more slender in appearance, Chinese eggplants vary in size and shape, showcasing hues ranging from lavender to pink, green, and white.
Eggplant- Chinese
Italian eggplants reach up to eight inches in length, characterized by their elongated shape and wider blossom-end. Their glossy, indigo-black skin boasts thickness, while the flesh beneath is creamy white. With a texture reminiscent of a sponge—succulent and porous—Italian eggplants transform into creamy, tender delights when cooked.
Eggplant- Italian
Garlic chives offer a flavor profile reminiscent of garlic, albeit much milder than the pungent bulb, with undertones of traditional chives. Both the leaves and the stalks of the flowers serve as versatile flavor enhancers, akin to chives, green onions, or garlic, and are commonly utilized in stir-fries and various culinary applications.
Garlic Chives
Hearts of Palm are a vegetable extracted from the inner core and emerging bud of specific palm trees, including the coconut palm.
Hearts of Palm
The jalapeño, classified as a fruit, is a medium-sized chili pepper known for its moderate heat, imparting a warm, tingling sensation upon consumption. Typically, a mature jalapeño measures 2–3½ inches (5–9 cm) in length and is harvested and sold while still green.
Pepper- Jalapeno
Casacal peppers offer a medium to hot level of spiciness along with a tangy acidity. They excel in enhancing the flavors of sauces, soups, and stews, infusing dishes with a distinctive smoky-walnut essence.
Pepper- Cascabel
The deep red 3-lobed fruit are 2 1/2 inches wide by 1 1/4 inches long. Very sweet, and excellent on veggie platters, in salads, stuffed, or cored and eaten whole. Peppers ripen from green to red.
Pepper- Mini Red
Yellow Mini Peppers; vibrant yellow fruits, each comprised of three lobes, measure approximately 2 1/2 inches wide by 1 1/4 inches long. Renowned for their exceptional sweetness, these peppers are perfect for inclusion in vegetable platters, salads, as stuffing, or simply enjoyed whole. They transition from green to yellow as they ripen.
Pepper- Mini Yellow
Ginger roots exhibit a fibrous texture and tend to be relatively dry. Extracting juice from older ginger roots yields an extremely potent liquid, highly valued in South Asian cuisines for its robust flavoring properties. It is commonly employed to enhance the taste of dishes featuring seafood, goat meat, and vegetarian cuisine.
Ginger
Savoy spinach boasts a deep, lush green hue and an intensely crinkled texture, delivering a robust spinach flavor. To prepare, steam it over boiling water for five to ten minutes. Alternatively, lightly sauté it in a small quantity of oil or stock to serve alongside main dishes.
Spinach- Savoy
Beets with rich emerald edible leaves. The vibrant red flesh of these beets offers a mild yet hearty flavor. They can be prepared in the same manner as regular beets and serve as a wonderful addition to soups and salads.
Beets Top
Red Romaine presents an elongated head of red leaves, offering a thick and crunchy texture. Its vibrant, tart leaves serve as a fantastic addition to any salad.
Lettuce- Red Romaine
Lollo Rosa lettuce, renowned for its vibrant hues and loose leaves, delivers a delightful combination of crunchiness and tenderness. Enjoy it fresh in salads or sandwiches, as it retains its crisp texture longer than many other greens.
Lollo Rosa
Popcorn shoots, cultivated from unique popcorn seeds, undergo blanching to preserve their vivid yellow hue and prevent them from turning green. These delicate shoots exhibit sensitivity to light and should be stored in closed, opaque containers to safeguard their vibrant coloration. Notably, popcorn shoots offer an exceptional sweetness and tenderness, with a distinctive, slightly sour aftertaste.
Popcorn Shoots
Pea sprouts, the initial shoots of the snow pea or English pea plant, are available year-round, though they are especially abundant at farmers’ markets during the spring season. Possessing a sweet, fresh flavor reminiscent of peas, they serve as excellent additions to salads or stir-fries, lending their vibrant taste to culinary creations.
Sprouts- Peas
Radish sprouts share the same mild peppery flavor as mature radish plants, which many people find appealing. These sprouts are essentially germinated radish seeds in the early stages of leaf development. They are popular in Asian cuisine but can also enhance the flavor of salads, sandwiches, and dishes from various other culinary traditions.
Sprouts- Radish
Rainbow chard, also referred to as 5-color silver beet, is a tender chard variant showcasing vibrant stalks in hues of yellow, white, orange, pink, and red. This variety boasts an assertive texture and offers an earthy flavor with subtle notes of saltiness and sweetness. Swiss chard leaves are robust enough to withstand braising in soups and stews, and they also serve well as wrappers in dishes such as terrines.
Swiss Chard- Rainbow
The fresh raw stalks of Rhubarb exhibit a crisp texture akin to celery, accompanied by a robust tartness. Typically, these stalks are cooked and incorporated into pies and various dishes to leverage their tangy flavor profile.
Rhubarb
Spring onions, akin to green onions, possess a slightly stronger flavor profile. When thinly sliced, they enhance the taste of fresh spring and summer vegetables and lend themselves beautifully to stir-fries and sautéed dishes.
Onions- Spring
Fava beans mature to lengths of 6-8 inches, encased in a soft green outer skin that should be removed before consumption. These beans boast a robust and appealing flavor, whether enjoyed raw or cooked.
Peas- Fava
Sunchoke, resembling knobby, pink-skinned ginger roots, boasts a sweet, nutty flavor akin to water chestnuts. Despite their limited popularity, they offer an inexpensive and versatile option for both raw and cooked dishes, including delightful soups.
Sunchokes
White asparagus is highly regarded as a delectable delicacy. It is cultivated under a layer of soil to shield it from sunlight, inhibiting the production of chlorophyll and resulting in its distinctive white appearance. This asparagus variety adds a delightful touch to both cold dishes, such as green or bean salads, and hot dishes, serving as a savory accompaniment to main courses.
Asparagus- White
Snow peas, also known as edible podded peas, combine the desirable qualities of snap beans—tenderness and crispness—with those of garden peas—sweetness and meatiness. Young snow peas are particularly delightful additions to salads.
Peas- Snow
Frequently featured in salads or consumed whole, snap pea pods are versatile enough to be stir-fried or steamed. Before consumption, mature snap pea pods may require "stringing," a process that involves removing the membranous string running along the top of the pod from base to tip. Care should be taken not to overcook the pods, as this can cause them to fall apart.
Peas- Snap
The Belgian endive may be eaten baked, steamed, boiled, grilled, or raw. Before cooking the endive, the bottom core will need to be removed to prevent a bitter flavor from spoiling the finished dish.
Endive- Belgian
Hydro Bibb lettuce features a loose arrangement of leaves with a soft, velvety texture. Its flavor is sharp yet smooth on the palate.
Lettuce- Hydro Bibb
Upland Crest, also known as "Creasy greens," remains a beloved classic that proves just as simple to cultivate as spinach, whether indoors or outdoors. Notably, it boasts even greater cold tolerance than spinach. This resilient plant yields clusters of glossy, vibrant green leaves in attractive rosettes.
Upland Crest
Micro greens, comprised of miniature leafy vegetables cultivated from seeds, thrive in minimal space requirements. These versatile plants can be incorporated into salads, added to sandwiches, roasted alongside other vegetables, or included in meat dishes during cooking.
Micro Greens
Micro arugula imparts a spicy yet nutty flavor profile. These vibrant, heart-shaped green leaves shine when incorporated into mixed green salads.
Arugula- Micro
Hydro Watercress, also referred to as "water pepper," adds a zesty, refreshing crunch to salads. Its lush green hydroponically-grown leaves are smooth and glossy.
Watercress- Hydro
Bull's Blood showcases a deep red hue accompanied by a rich, beet-like flavor. Its striking appearance and satisfying taste make it a beautiful addition to mixed green salads.
Bull's Blood- Micro Greens