Bitter melon can be eaten raw when thinly sliced raw but it’s commonly cooked. Bitter melon can be stir-fried, parboiled, or stuffed. The bitter melon picked at maturity will be bitter. The younger, thinner, shorter, and bright green bitter melon will be less bitter tasting. The bitter melon harvest season runs from mid-spring through late […] More
Cooked asparagus has a subtle sweet grassy flavor. It is a perfect match to salty dairy ingredients such as butter, Parmesan cheese, and hollandaise sauce. Asparagus also is well matched to slightly sulfurous-tasting foods: eggs, shellfish, and garlic. There are three types of asparagus: green asparagus which can be both sweet and slightly tart flavored, […] More
Leeks can be steamed, braised, grilled, and poached. You can also make leek au gratin and leek-potato soup. The flavor and fragrance of leeks are more subtle, delicate, and sweeter than onions. Favorite leek recipe Potato-Leek Soup Simply Made Leeks cooking suggestions Also of interest: How to choose leeks Kitchen Helpers from Amazon: How to […] More
You can be as simple or fancy as you want with artichokes. The simplest way to cook an artichoke is to trim away the thorny ends and stand it upright in a deep saucepan large enough to hold them snugly. Cook them covered in two inches of gently boiling salted water for 35 minutes or […] More
Bamboo shoots slowly simmered have a delicate, bitter flavor and earthy aroma. Fresh bamboo shoots can be sliced and boiled, sautéed or braised, and served as an accompaniment to meat and fish. They can be slow-cooked with other vegetables or stir-fried. The crunchy texture of young, tender bamboo shoots makes them a great choice served […] More
Carrots can be served raw or cooked. The key to serving the best-tasting carrots is to serve carrots that are not too small and not too large and to serve them as soon after harvest as possible. You can eat carrots raw whole or in sticks or grated in a salad. Carrots can be used […] More
Potatoes are not fattening. Potatoes are high in fiber content and contain quality complex carbohydrates that will fill you up but not fill you out. A medium-sized baked potato contains around 90 calories, about the same as an apple. However, potatoes drenched in butter or smothered in gravy or the fat in the steak you […] More
Okra is easily cooked and served. Okra has a rich, sweet earthy flavor. The flavor is similar to eggplant with hints of asparagus and artichoke. The peak okra harvest season is mid to late summer. How to choose okra Kitchen Helpers from Amazon: How to store okra How to prep okra for cooking How to […] More
Onions come in a wide range of sizes, shapes, and colors, as well as specific varieties. There are fresh onions and onions for storage. There are onions for eating raw and onions for cooking. There are mild onions and pungent onions. There are onions that grow best where the days are short and onions that […] More
Celery can be eaten raw or cooked. Celery brings texture and a mild flavor to salads, hors d’oeuvres, soups, stuffings, stews, and stock. It can be steamed, braised, or sautéed and served as a side dish. Celery tastes best when it comes to harvest in cool weather, late spring, or in autumn. How to choose […] More
Summer or tender squash can be sautéed, steamed, boiled, baked, grilled, microwaved, or eaten raw. Use raw tender squash as an addition to crudités trays and salads The tender summer squashes–zucchini, Costata Romanesca, round and globe, scallop or pattypan, yellow crookneck, and yellow straightneck, and Zephyr–mature during the summer and can be claimed as baby […] More
Chilies or hot peppers can be eaten raw or they can be roasted, grilled, pan-seared, toasted, or stuffed. Chilies can also be added to other cooked dishes; they contain natural chemicals that enhance the flavor of other foods during cooking. Often small, hot chilies—such as the jalapeño, Serrano, poblano, Anaheim, and banana–are used fresh. But […] More
Stephen Albert