Unusual Vegetables and Fruits

Vegetables

Black radishes are more commonly found in Europe. In the US you can find them at specialty grocery stores and local farmers markets, The taste of a black radish is pungent and aromatic. One way to enjoy them is to take a peeled black radish and grate it into a bowl and then add sour cream and some salt and pepper and mix well, It can be like a salad by itself or as a sidedish.

Okinawan purple sweet potatoes or Japanese sweet potatoes are a nice shade of purple, They are drier and denser than the more common variety of sweet potatoes and have to be cooked longer, The taste is similar to common sweet potatoes and adds color to dishes.

The Chinese artichoke is used in both Chinese and Japanese cooking, The artichoke is often pickled and served with traditional dishes, These artichokes can be cooked in a variety of ways including sauteeing in butter or boiling in stock. They can also be eaten raw, Their taste offers a nutty sweetness.

Fiddleheads are a lush green and are the fronds from a young fern keeping their rolled-up shape. They offer a variety of vitamins and mineral and have to be cooked before eating. Fiddleheads are either boiled or steamed and they have a taste that is similar to asparagus.

Ramps have many other names among them, spring onions, wild leeks, wild garlic and wood leeks, They have become popular with chefs. Ramps are one of the first vegetables that begin to grow in the spring, They can most often be found at farmers markets. Ramps add a nice flavor when chopped up and added to different dishes while cooking or added to salads.

Dulse looks like red cabbage but are actually a kind of seaweed that attaches to rocks and grows. This seaweed can be fried or added fresh to different kinds of soups or chowders. It adds a salty taste to dishes. Dulse provides both iron and potassium and has significant levels of omega fatty acids.

Kohlrabi might not be the most attractive looking vegetable but it does add flavor to various dishes. The outer layer has to be peeled always to get to the edible part of the vegetable. Once the outer layer is peeled away then another fibrous layer gets peeled as well, Then the inner part of the bulb can be cooked or eaten raw. In raw form, it can be added to salads and can also be roasted or stir-fried with other vegetables or as a side all on its own.

Sunchokes are versatile vegetables that are in taste similar to artichokes, They can be cooked or eaten raw. In raw form, they are sliced up thinly and added to salads. Word of caution with this vegetable since it can cause bloating or gas.

Manioc is a starchy tuber also referred to as cassava or yucca. It is popular in Caribbean cooking and used instead of flour as a baking starch in African cooking, Manioc can be used in fritters and mashes as a meal or as a boiled vegetable. Maniocs are used as a thickener in sauces and puddings.

Fruit

Tomatillos are the staple ingredient in Mexican cooking. This fruit is the size of a small apricot and has a mild, sweet taste but some tomatillos can taste sour, They can be eaten raw or roasted and also added to salsas.

Jicama resembles a giant potato. This is a root vegetable with origins in Mexico. This fruit is popular to use in jicama slaws and is often a nice addition to salads.

Jackfruit is a popular fruit that is eaten all over Southeast Asia. It is often added to vegetable curries. If bought in canned form, it comes in heavy syrup and is used for desserts. Jackfruit is native to southern India and the plant is a cousin to the mulberry. Jackfruit is the world's largest fruit to grow on trees.

Durian is not the most scented fruit in the world. It gives off a terrible odor and due to this, it is illegal to cut open this football-sized fruit in public places in Singapore. It does have a nice creamy yellow flesh. The taste is nothing like the odor and can be eaten raw or added to cakes or ice cream.

Loofah or ridge gourd has the taste of zucchini when it is young and tender. However, as the fruit ages, it becomes woody. Loofah while fresh is used in Chinese and Indian cooking.

Lychees are part of the soapberry family and native to southern China. Once their skin is peeled off the white flesh has a delicate and scented flavor. Unfortunately with each lychee, there is less fruit and more seed. Due to this the fruit is rather expensive but can be bought canned.

Cherimoya grows in tropical areas. It is creamy on the inside and at times called the custard apple. The fruit can be eaten with a spoon and is sweet with a taste similar to bananas and pineapples. The fruit offers many vitamins and fiber and is believed to help fight inflammation.

Black sapote is a fruit native to Central American and Mexico. The fruit has a sweet taste similar to chocolate pudding and is used for desserts, This healthy fruit has Vitamin C and calcium and is a healthier alternative to desserts that require chocolate.

Buddha's Hand originated in India and later become popular in China, It is grown all year round hut is particularly in demand on the Chinse New Year since it is said that this fuit symbolizes happiness and wealth. Since the fruit does not have pulp or seed its zest is used for added flavor.