Does anything stand out in my most recent produce haul?
Red and yellow peppers (on SUPER sale!), cukes, broc slaw, raspberries, melons, squash, onions, white eggplant, radishes…
Wait, white eggplant?
Am I the last dinosaur who hasn’t ever tried this before? I love trying new fruits and veggies when I see them on sale at the store, and definitely when they look ripe and ready to eat.
So, today’s listmania is a list of fruits/veggies I’ve tried that are a bit off of the beaten path, and what I thought of them! My rating system is 0-5 apples.
To Beet or not to Beet- A fruit and veggie quest
–Starfruit– I had only had small bites of this until about 3 years ago. I was drawn in by its color and the potential to make pretty salads by cutting it into its’ fancy star shape. Verdict? Fun for the shape, so-so flavor. 3 apples.
–Cherimoya– I tried it once in a sample at the co-op, but was scared off by the price. When I finally did find it on sale (miraculous, it is never on sale in MN), I was delighted. A lot of work to eat, but kind of like a sweeter spoonable banana! Try it if you haven’t! 4 1/2 apples!
–Golden raspberries– After trying regular raspberries hundreds of times, I thought I’d try the golden ones. Maybe I had bad luck, but they had no flavor or sweetness whatsoever. So, for this particular batch at least? 1 apple.
–Cactus– I’ve still only bought it pre-cut, as I’m afraid to cut it off the paddle. But delicious in a spicy salad. 5 apples!
–Spaghetti Squash– didn’t try this baby until about 4 years ago. Now its a must have in the winter when nothing else is fresh. Very versatile. I like to bake it and put salsa on top. 4 apples!
– Kiwano/ “horned” melon– So cute, I thought. There couldn’t be a gross melon, could there? DO NOT TRY THIS MELON IT IS AWFUL! After my horrible experience I googled it out of sheer disbelief that a fruit could be flavored like garbage. Turns out- others share my distaste. Consider yourself warned- I wish I had been. Negative 300 apples.
–Okra. I never tried this until I was an adult, but once I did? Sold. Forever. I’m not talking fried or in gumbo, I mean plain. As a dish of its’ own. I like to put tomato sauce on it for the goo though. 4 apples!
–Champagne mangoes– When I picked one of these babies up, I thought “can this be worth it- a smaller mango for the same price?” At first taste… Yes, it is worth it. Just when you think a mango can’t be sweeter? It is sweeter.
–Fresh figs. Now, I had dried figs for years before trying a fresh one. I was at a Persian market and they had fresh figs in, so I had to try them. Verdict? Decent, but I’d rather have the dried ones! Maybe if I prepared them in a dessert instead of just eating them fresh from the carton, though. 3 apples.
–Baby bok choy– Okay, so not a very exotic vegg, but given my hatred of all lettuces, my greens exposure was pretty much Spinach Spinach, Chard, Spinach, Kale, Spinach, Spinach for most of my life. Then, a few years ago, I thought I’d try this one. While chopping up, ready to saute with some lemon and garlic, I popped a bit of the stalk in my mouth just out of curiosity. Whoa- if its this good raw, I thought, what will it taste like cooked? Just as good, but I’m thoroughly impressed to find any green other than spinach that I will eat raw! 4 apples!
What fruits and veggies have you gone out on a limb to try? Any that are still on your list for a good sale or a rainy day? Do you know a good way to prepare white eggplant?
Happy Summer to all- I’m gearing up for farmer’s market season! (Yes, its not truly a year round thing up North).
Meri
