Perplexing Produce: 13 Unusual Fruits and Vegetables

[Food Network Fan]

Perplexing Produce: 13 Unusual Fruits and Vegetables


These Exotic Items Are Not Just for Foodies Anymore



By CARI NIERENBERG
ABC News Medical Unit
March 18, 2009
In the industry they're known as exotic or specialty produce, but consumers might think of these fruits and vegetables as unusual, uncommon or simply strange.
Some unusual fruits and vegetables have varying health benefits.
(ABC News)

Although exotic fruits and vegetables still represent 1 percent of all produce sales, "some things once introduced as specialty items are now mainstream and not considered exotic anymore," said Karen Caplan, president of Freida's Specialty Produce in Los Alamitos, Calif.
She explained that chili peppers were once new to the average American consumer. But these days most everyone is familiar with these hot peppers and as further indication of their widespread popularity, salsa has eclipsed ketchup as the country's most popular condiment. Mangoes and kiwis were also once viewed as unconventional and are now commonplace in stores.


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[Food Network Fan]

I had to laugh about dandelion greens, I never thought of them as unusual.

All of us should try buying something new we have never purchased before from the produce department. We can post what we think of it.

[GB2002]

I tried a new vegetable this week: kohlrabi. It's a bulbous green vegetable that's a sort of turnip/cabbage/broccoli thing. It came as part of our organic crop share.

We prepared it two ways:
1) Sliced it and mixed it in with beef and mushrooms and Amish noodles. It was OK, but not great. The kohlrabi made it like Amish moo goo gai pan.
2) Kohlrabi and carrot slaw. No need for a picture. It looks like regular coleslaw. I liked this dish a lot and served it with fried green tomatoes and fresh-picked cherry tomatoes, both of which were also part of our crops this week from the organic farm.

I'll attach a picture of the vegetable itself.

[ping]

I've had pretty much everything on that list. Some of the stuff I use regularly like tomatillos, pummelo, gai lan (I've always called it kailan), and the kumquats.

Tomatillios are good for making salsa with.

[Food Network Fan]

I started to get a star fruit today but it was 2.99 for one that was pretty small. I will find another item.

[bakerman]

I had to laugh about dandelion greens, I never thought of them as unusual.

All of us should try buying something new we have never purchased before from the produce department. We can post what we think of it.

Our neighbor used to come pick the dandelion greens from our lawn, she loved them, so they are not weird to me either.

[bakerman]

Anyone ever heard of or eaten fiddleheads?

Back in Maine, lots of people I knew would go picking these from the riverbanks in the spring before they opened up.

[Food Network Fan]

I saw them when Emeril made them with morels on an episode of Essence of Emeril, but I have never seen them here locally.

[GB2002]

Never had a fiddlehead but I've had starfruit. And it didn't cost $2.99. When I worked in Miami people would bring 'em in from their backyards. Where I live now they bring in grapefruit (just got some yesterday) and ... Meyer lemons -- like on the list.
I think starfruit grow here in the Tampa Bay area, too, but I don't know anyone with a tree. They were offered as a "freebie" with our farm crop a month ago. I didn't take any.

[ping]

Never had a fiddlehead but I've had starfruit. And it didn't cost $2.99. When I worked in Miami people would bring 'em in from their backyards. Where I live now they bring in grapefruit (just got some yesterday) and ... Meyer lemons -- like on the list.
I think starfruit grow here in the Tampa Bay area, too, but I don't know anyone with a tree. They were offered as a "freebie" with our farm crop a month ago. I didn't take any.

You get those big ruby red grapefruits there? That has to be the best fruit in the world.