TIP OF THE DAY: Roots & Shoots

THE NIBBLE BLOG: Products, Recipes & Trends In Specialty Foods

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February 25, 2015 at 7:50 am · Filed under Tip Of The Day, Vegetables-Salads-Herbs

Even when nature isn’t in full bloom, you can add interest to meals by seeking out less ordinary versions of conventional foods.

All you have to do is look for them—at specialty produce stores, farmers markets and online (check out Melissas.com and OmahaSteaks.com, among others).

What will you find? The bounty varies by region, but you can find these veggies nationwide:

Baby leeks

Celery root

Microgreens

Mixed potatoes

Multicolor* beets

Multicolor* bell peppers

Multicolor* carrots

Multicolor* hothouse cherry tomatoes

Specialty radishes

*Typically, they’re available in orange, purple, red or yellow. You can also find white carrots and brown bell peppers and tomatoes.

A double salad: celery root remoulade topped with vinaigrette-dressed baby greens. Photo by Hannah Kaminsky | Bittersweet Blog.

Purple potatoes can be served in any style conducive to waxy potatoes. How about purple mashed potatoes! Photo by Mona Makela | IST.

You may also be able to find:

Garlic roots

Garlic shoots

Micro popcorn shoots†

Pea tendrils

Whether you use these veggies to make exciting salads, roast them for sides or more complicated vegetable recipes, most of these artisanal veggies will add color splashes to the table during the winter doldrums.

Proteins and starches tend to be brown or beige. That’s why you need the right veggies to enliven your meals.

There are countless vegetable recipes online; or treat yourself to a vegetable cookbook. Take a look at Williams-Sonoma’s Vegetable of the Day: 365 Recipes for Every Day of the Year.

*Used for many years in European, popcorn shoots are gaining popularity among top chefs in the U.S. The shoots are intensely sweet and attractive. They make a surprise garnish for any dish. Here’s more about them; click the second photo.

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