Romanesca Cauliflower
Isn't this the most stunning vegetable you've ever seen? I love this beautiful baby Romanesca cauliflower I found at yesterday's Farmers Market. It's fractal spirals make it look so other-worldly!
Originally from Northern Italy, the Romanesca cauliflower (also known as Broccoli Romanesco and Chou Romanesco) has the texture of a cauliflower, but tastes much more like mild sweet broccoli. Raw, the flavor was delicate at first, then followed by a radishy heat. Steamed, the radishy heat disappeared completely and the flavor was mild, creamy and faintly nutty. The Romanesca was certainly the prettiest vegetable I've ever topped with a cheddar cheese sauce:
This baby Romanesca (it covered the palm of my hand) steamed very quickly: 2 minutes. Next time, I'll give it the Roman treatment and simply saute it with olive oil, garlic, and pinenuts with a little lemon. Get yours now! The season for these beauties is very brief (Sept. - Nov.).
And, my cold has almost gone, thanks in part, no doubt, to the big dose of Vitamin C to be found in this little cauliflower. So this simple recipe is my contribution to Sweetnicks ARF/5-A-Day Tuesday (ARF=Antioxidant Rich Food).
posted by Catherine at 10:51 AM
11 Comments:
Lol what the? Never seen this before! I made a program with loads of fruits and vegetables and other foods in it. But never came across this one. Are you interested in taking a look at it, maybe if you know of more exotic foods I can link to your site from it? Would be happy for you to contact me, thanks.
I love Romanesca! It hasn't appeared at my farmers market yet this year, but I got all I could last year. It has an extremely short growing period, I think just six weeks or so. So get 'em while you can!
Ha, ha! 'Tis the season. Click over to Ilva at Lucullian Delights (you can find her in my blogroll), and check out my non-romanesco ::green:: cauliflower.
Beautiful, Cath.
I just saw this cauliflower for the first time, at a tiny market called Plum Produce in Boston. Too beautiful to eat, I think.
Ahhhhhhhhh! You know what's funny ... I was just watching a cooking show and saw this vegetable and was wondering, "What the heck is that?"
And then I see your post! Very cool!
Its the prettiest Veggie I have ever seen. Infact its too cute to eat.
This is beautiful! I think I need to go on a hunt.
thats truly beautifull!
Thanks to all for your comments! I've been trying to respond all day but blogger is having a problem!
Welcome Rav and atxvegn!
Tanna - so good to hear from you.
It's truly lovely and great to photograph! But you gotta eat it too - yum!
Hi Catherine :)
Where did you even find out about this recipe? Lol...
I ate one from a Farmer's Market on Saturday, first time I had ever seen them. Ate the whole thing raw, out of my hand like an apple. :]
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