Some vegetables get all kinds of love. Broccoli, carrots, and peppers, for example, are ubiquitous crudite platter/salad/standard restaurant features. And they're tasty, all of them. But what about the less loved, underappreciated veggies?
Take celery root, for example. Peeled, boiled and pureed in a blender with seasonings and butter, you have a perfectly lovely soup or side dish depending on whether you want to thin the puree with a bit of water/broth or not. Or kale. Lacinato kale, sliced thinly and tossed with lemon olive oil, rice vinegar, and parmesan cheese makes a delicious salad. And turnips. Slice them into 8ths, toss with a little oil of your choice and some pepper and have some scrumptious roasted turnip fries.
I have a soft spot for all these vegetables. The ugly, the mocked, the ignored. Now granted, celery root is knobby and lumpy, lacinato kale looks like it has a skin condition, and turnips are just plain boring. Because of their looks, these poor guys never get the chance to show off how good they can be.
But, much like the sweet ignored nerd you went to high school with who eventually went to Harvard and founded a wildly successful company, they deserve a second chance. You might be surprised at how much they have to offer.
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4 comments:
I will try.
why? because your writing is so freakin funny. that final paragraph? lovelovelove.
Awww-you're making me blush :)
HAHA!! You are too funnnny :]
I have to tell you, though, I've always been a girl who roots for the "underdog" and I think I'll join your movement to bring these "forgotten vegetables" out of the shadows. I just bought a big head of kale from Whole Foods last week... I'm afraid I've neglected them a little, though; they still sit on my shelf in the refrigerator untouched. I just don't know what to do with them! After reading this post, I'm inspired to look up some kale recipes.
The turnip fries also sound really interesting... how clever! I'd really like to try making a batch.
Yay! Forgotten kale can be added to any soup--bumps up the nutritional quotient in a big way :)
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