Food
In Praise Of The Winter Vegetable: 10 Veggies To Enjoy Right Now
introIt’s easy to be bedazzled by summer’s colourful vegetable bounty and feel underwhelmed with winter crops. But there’s no need: Cold weather produce is healthy, versatile and simply delicious, especially in these recipes.
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In Praise Of The Winter Vegetable: 10 Veggies To Enjoy Right Now.
Brussels SproutsBrussels Sprouts – Is your childhood memory of overcooked, bitter Brussels sprouts still putting you off? Try roasting them for a wholly different experience. Mixed with chopped hazelnuts, roasted chestnuts or strips of bacon, these adorable mini cabbages are simply delicious. And nutritious, too: these fellas pack a lot of different nutrients, especially fibre, vitamin K and vitamin C. If Yotam Ottolenghi’s brilliant recipe for pan-fried Brussels sprouts and shallots with pomegranate and purple basil won’t convince you, then maybe these balsamic honey roasted Brussels sprouts will.
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In Praise Of The Winter Vegetable: 10 Veggies To Enjoy Right Now.
CarrotsCarrots – This popular crop can be harvested in summer, but in autumn and winter the carrot reaches its peak sweetness; when it’s cold, the starches are converted into sugar to prevent the water in the cells from freezing. While you probably don’t need much convincing to add this one into your diet, give yourself an extra pat on the back when you do, as carrots are full of vitamin A, antioxidants and other nutrients. For something truly carrot-y, go for this linguine coated with carrot juice, topped with pickled carrots, carrot-top pesto and fresh carrot tops. Sprinkled with Parmesan, this ode to the humble carrot is a great dish for a weekend dinner party. Want to satisfy a sweet tooth? Go all out with the irresistible masala chai carrot cake from brilliant food blogger Nik Sharma.
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In Praise Of The Winter Vegetable: 10 Veggies To Enjoy Right Now.
CeleriacCeleriac – Hairy, knobby, dirty: celeriac (or celery root) can’t convince by looks alone. Health benefits, then? Its flesh is low in calories and contains vitamins C, K and B-6, along with potassium, phosphorus and plenty of dietary fibre. Even if you’ve never given the poor ugly fellow so much as a glance in the produce section, this healthy recipe for a celeriac, pancetta and thyme soup will make you fall in love with the flavourful root. Alternatively, try “céleri rémoulade”, a classic salad that is ubiquitous in France. The dish calls for boatloads of mayonnaise that kind of cancel out its healthy appeal, but hey, at least you had veggies for lunch. Chef Nigel Slater’s recipe is fab.
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In Praise Of The Winter Vegetable: 10 Veggies To Enjoy Right Now.
Chard(Swiss) Chard – First, a laundry list of nutritional benefits: vitamins A, C and K, magnesium, potassium, iron and dietary fibre. Still here? Ok, onto the flavour. Chard’s lush leaves taste slightly bitter, but not too much so, and the stems have a pleasant crunch. We like them quickly sautéed, perhaps with lemon and garlic, or in an elegant tarte aux blettes (those French, again!). This rainbow chard tart in a chestnut crust is a lovely weekend project (you’ll probably find hardier, white-stemmed chard only during winter, though). [Photo: Alex/Wikimedia Commons]
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Food
In Praise Of The Winter Vegetable: 10 Veggies To Enjoy Right Now.
CabbageGreen Cabbage – Cabbage is one of the most cold-resistant crops, and hundreds of varieties are grown worldwide, such as Savoy cabbage. Similar to regular green cabbage, Savoy is milder in flavour (although the two can be used interchangeably in recipes). The nicely wrinkled leaves boast a lot of calcium, vitamins K, B and C, iron, magnesium and manganese. We like this version, simple and healthy: steamed, then fried and served with toasted almonds. For an extra hearty winter version, check out this Slovenian dish of homemade pasta with cabbage wilted in bacon fat and spiced with cayenne.
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In Praise Of The Winter Vegetable: 10 Veggies To Enjoy Right Now.
KaleKale – Poor kale, the food equivalent of the man-bun or the lumberjack shirt. Look past its granola-hipster reputation to find a hardy leafy green with an impressive amount of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants – so much more than just an ingredient for a green smoothie! In green tacos with sweet potato, avocado and crema mexicana, for instance. Or, more comforting: chef Sam Hayward’s crispy baked kale with Gruyère cheese.
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In Praise Of The Winter Vegetable: 10 Veggies To Enjoy Right Now.
ParsnipsParsnips – Vitamins C, B and E, potassium, magnesium, manganese: nutritional powerhouses, those parsnips! A root like the carrot, it also tastes sweeter with colder temperatures. The slightly earthy taste matches wonderfully well with a bit of sweetness, such as these honey-roasted beauties, and more surprising, in these delicate tartines with pear and Fourme d’Ambert (a mild blue cheese).
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Food
In Praise Of The Winter Vegetable: 10 Veggies To Enjoy Right Now.
Red CabbageRed Cabbage – This cruciferous vegetable has been the focus of many recent studies, for its anthocyanin antioxidants, aka its cardiovascular protection power. Funnily enough, the plant is known by different colours in different regions, because depending the pH value of the soil, it can tint more reddish, purple, blue or yellow. Refreshing and healthy, this Thai sesame red cabbage and carrot salad is on repeat in our kitchen playlist, but when you need a recipe that’s a bit richer and beer-proof, try the traditional German Rotkohl. Use lard! (We won’t tell anyone.)
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Food
In Praise Of The Winter Vegetable: 10 Veggies To Enjoy Right Now.
RutabagaRutabagas – Rutabaga, rutabaga, rutabaga… the name of this root has us breaking out in song, but it has other virtues as well. High in dietary fibre, it can improve digestive health. A cross between a cabbage and a turnip, rutabaga (also known as swede) has a sweet, mild flavour that works well in many different dishes. It’s lovely mashed with sour cream and dill, or roasted in a rutabaga beer cheese soup. [Photo: William Newton/Flickr]
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In Praise Of The Winter Vegetable: 10 Veggies To Enjoy Right Now.
Sweet PotatoesSweet Potatoes – These tubers can be stored in winter, and as they cure, their flavour deepens. An excellent source of vitamins A, C and B as well as dietary fibre, they’re simply delish in hearty dishes such as this veggie shepherd’s pie with sweet potato mash. To satisfy your sweet tooth, try a Mississippi classic, the sweet potato cobbler. Yum!
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