hurricane veg
“Blegh,” I mumbled through a mouthful of soft, garlicky braised kale. “Who wants to eat cold, raw veg in the dead of winter?” Across the table, the Man nodded his head ponderously in erudite veg-master approval. The kale was that good.
But the very next day, a wind force 12 craving swept in and I found myself literally eating my words…
…and they were life-giving. Other debris the storm brought in included fresh greens, pepitas, raw garlic, and chili. With a gale of lemon juice and olive oil, of course.
What side of the veg fence are you on during the winter?
We’ve been eating things new to us: taro, bitter melon, and fresh turmeric(!), along with the usual suspects like leeks, onions, broccoli raab, etc. We continue to like raw vegetables, especially with a Vietnamese dipping sauce. I prefer my beets cooked, then chilled for salads, but that’s why God invented the pressure cooker. :-) Ken
That sweet/salty/sour/spicy combination is magical, isn’t it? Love it. In Indonesia plain veggies are served raw with a simple sambal (lalaban), or blanched and drizzled with a spicy peanut sauce (gado gado).
Okay, so now you’ve sent me on an Indonesian Google binge. Both of those look and sound good. I’ll let you know if I get stuck.
Beets. A very favorite of mine. Even wrote a story about them. Enjoyed reading your post today. -cheers
I confess that I quake in the organic veggie aisle while observing the strange formations and
colors of what I think of as “the new kids on the block.” As for me, I am at home with the broc, zukes, carrots, asparagus..you, know..the old guys. I’ve never met a potato I didn’t like.I’ve also built caring relationships with brussel sprouts and parsnips. But, in deference to your spirit of adventure and enviable creativity, I hereby promise to try something I’ve never tasted without making a terrible face and spitting it out. Really. Love ya.
You go girl. I agree that it can be overwhelming — all the choice globalized trade has brought us, represented in the veggie aisle! I tackle one new thing at a time and try 5 different preparations before I make up my mind. (: