PRODUCT INFO Angle luffa is an elongated gourd with dark green skin, lined with evenly spaced ridged peaks, that taper at each end. They can be harvested when young, around 15 to 25 centimeters long, but average 30 to 40 centimeters in length and 5 to 7 centimeters wide. Angle luffa is tender; the bright white flesh has spongy texture and offers a silky, subtly sweet flavor when cooked. As it matures, the skin becomes tough and bitter and the flesh becomes fibrous and woody. USES Angle luffa can be eaten raw when young and around 15 centimeters long and 3 centimeters thick. More mature fruits can be prepared much like zucchini. They are peeled and sliced or cut into bite-sized pieces for stir-fry, battering and deep frying, to add to fish soups, dahls, or curries. Angle luffa will soak up the flavors of whatever liquid it is prepared in. In India the gourd is used in sabzis, or cooked vegetable dishes, simmered in a spice-filled gravy along with peas, cauliflower and tomatoes. Add it to stews or other vegetable dishes. Pair with seafood, spicy chiles, tamarind, soy sauce, cilantro, eggs and potato. Store Angle luffa in the refrigerator for up to a week. SEASON Angle luffa is available year-round with a peak season in the summer months.
PRODUCT INFO White eggplants are slightly curved and oblong, averaging 10-17 centimeters in length. The outer skin is smooth and bright white with one bulbous end that tapers slightly to a green calyx. The cream-colored inner flesh is dense with many, edible white seeds. When cooked, White eggplants are creamy and mild with a light sweet flavor. USES White eggplants are best suited for cooked applications such as sauteing pan-frying, deep-frying, grilling, and baking. Their skins are firmer than purple varieties and should be peeled before cooking. They can be sliced and grilled, used in stir-fries, or sauteing with other vegetables as a side dish. They can also be sliced and used as a substitute for meat in pasta dishes such as parmigiana bianca. White eggplants pair well with chilies, tomatoes, squash, stewed meats, grilled and baked fish, chicken, chickpeas, lentils, herbs such as basil, mint, cilantro, and parsley, cheeses such as fresh cow's milk, parmesan, and aged sheep's cheese, miso, ginger, yuzu, garlic, and allspice. White eggplants will keep up to three days when stored in a cool and dry place. SEASONS White eggplants are available during the summer months.
PRODUCT INFO Small purple eggplant has both spherical and oval shapes. Properties of small purple eggplant no matter what color it is useful in many ways, for example, it is beneficial for diabetics because small purple eggplant contains substances that help strengthen the function of glucose, help drive parasites, help digestion, which helps the system. Excreted as well, in Small purple eggplant contains substances that are active against the growth of colon and liver cancer, help treat asthma, relieve bronchitis, lower cholesterol levels, reduce blood lipids. If anyone wants to lose weight, you can choose to eat eggplant to cook or eat fresh. USES Small Purple Eggplant Ingredients In addition to providing beautiful and appetizing colors It is also beneficial to the body as well. SEASONS Small Purple Eggplant is available year-round.
PRODUCT INFO Broccoli consists of flowering heads that are harvested when the buds are unopened, small, and still green. The heads average 10 to 20 centimeters in diameter and grow on thick, fibrous stalks, emerging from a covering of large, leathery, dark green leaves. Broccoli heads are generally green, sometimes flushed with dark purple depending on the variety, and contain tiny, unopened buds attached to branching stems. The branching, segmented stems with the flower buds are known as florets, which connect into a larger, central, thick, and fibrous, pale green stem. The unopened buds have a crisp and tender consistency when raw, and if left to mature, the buds would produce bright yellow, four-petaled flowers. The thick, raw stems also have a crisp, crunchy, slightly chewy texture, and the leaves are edible but often contain a bitter, fibrous nature. When cooked, Broccoli develops a soft, semi-crunchy consistency and has vegetal, herbaceous, and earthy flavors with grassy, bittersweet nuances. Broccoli is a versatile ingredient well-suited for both raw and cooked applications, including steaming, boiling, roasting, baking, frying, and sauteing. The heads, stems, and leaves are all edible and will contain varying textures and flavors. The heads and stems are the most common portion of the plant consumed and can be chopped and tossed fresh into salads, mixed with other ingredients into slaws, or served on appetizer plates with creamy sauces and dips. Broccoli can also be battered and fried into tempura, lightly cooked and mixed into grain bowls, tossed into pasta, stir-fried with other vegetables, steamed and served as a tender side dish, or blanched and combined into rice and noodle dishes. In addition to using the heads in larger pieces, cooked Broccoli florets can be pureed into soups, stirred into risotto, or baked into quiches. The thick stems can also be used in any preparation calling for Broccoli. Some chefs choose to peel the stems to develop a more tender consistency when cooked. USES Broccoli leaves are also edible but may contain a bitter flavor. The leaves can be prepared similarly to kale or Swiss chard. Broccoli pairs well with zucchini, cauliflower, bell pepper, mushrooms, roasted meats, including poultry, turkey, beef, and fish, other seafood, sauces such as oyster, soy, creamy dressing, and vinaigrettes, and cheeses such as parmesan, cheddar, feta, and goat. Unwashed, raw Broccoli will keep 4 to 7 days when stored in the refrigerator, and once cooked, it will keep up to 5 days. It can also be frozen for 6 to 8 months. Season Broccoli is available year-round, with a peak season in the late fall through early spring.
PRODUCT INFO Puffball mushrooms range from small to very large in size, averaging 10-70 centimeters in diameter, and are round, oblong, to oval in shape. Some species are small, golf-ball sized, while others can grow as large as soccer balls. The white fruiting body can be smooth or bear some small scales, warts, or spines and is firm, airy, and spongy. There is also a protective coating that helps keep debris and dirt from entering the flesh. When sliced, the flesh should be pure white and never have any color. Puffball mushrooms are white when young and transition to a yellow-brown when mature and are rendered inedible when they reach this state. There are little to non-existent stems, and the spores are produced internally in the fruiting body. When young, Puffball mushrooms have a mild, nutty, and earthy flavor. Puffball mushrooms contain some phosphorus, manganese, selenium, and clavacin. USES Puffball mushrooms are best suited for cooked applications such as sauteing, pan-frying, and baking. Referred to as the �¢??breakfast mushroom" Puffball mushrooms pair well with egg dishes and are enhanced when sauteing and browned in simple ingredients such as garlic and butter. They can be sliced thinly and rolled with meat and vegetables, chopped into stir-fries, or grilled with marinades. They can also be cut into slices, battered, and fried, sliced and used as noodles in lasagna or ravioli, used as the dough in pizza, chopped into croquettes, blended into hummus, pureed into gravies, or dried and ground into a powder to use as a flavoring agent. The rotund mushrooms can be substituted for tofu or eggplant in many recipes. The flesh readily absorbs accompanying flavors so oil should be used sparingly. Puffball mushrooms pair well with tomatoes, broccoli, beets, rutabagas, radishes, turnips, parmesan cheese, garlic, poultry, scallops, crab meat, and tuna. They do not store well and should be used immediately after harvest. They can also be frozen between sheets of plastic and stored for extended use. Season Puffball mushrooms are available in the late summer through fall.
PRODUCT INFO Ear mushrooms are small to medium in size, averaging 3-8 centimeters in diameter, and are curved and wavy with an ear-like or cup-like shape. The fruiting bodies are brown to dark brown with a slippery or gelatinous texture and can be made up of smooth, wavy edges or many folds and wrinkles with some veining. With age, the gill-less and stemless fungus darkens, and the spores range in color from yellow, cream, to white. When cooked, Wood Ear mushrooms are firm, crunchy, and toothsome with a mild, musty flavor. Ear mushrooms contain iron, protein, fiber, and vitamins B1 and B2 USES Ear mushrooms are best suited for cooked applications such as boiling, stir-frying, and sauteing. Before cooking, the fungus should be rinsed, and any tough patches should be removed. Used for their chewy and toothsome texture, they can be added to soups, salads, or stir-fries and readily absorb accompanying flavors. Ear mushrooms are commonly added to Chinese hot and sour soup and to Szechwan and Hunan cuisine to soak up the spicier flavors. Outside of China, ear mushrooms are most commonly found in dried form and can easily be reconstituted. To rehydrate, the fungus should be soaked in water for at least half an hour. Ear mushrooms pair well with potatoes, fermented black beans, green onions, onions, ginger, soy sauce, red wine vinegar, sesame oil, cilantro, parsley, bay leaves, allspice, snow thistle, cucumber, bamboo shoots, green peas, tofu, pork, ham, shrimp, and crab. They should be used immediately and will only keep for a couple of days when wrapped in paper towels and stored in the refrigerator. Season Ear mushrooms are available from early summer through early winter, while the cultivated versions are available year-round.
PRODUCT INFO Golden Mushroom are very small in size and grow in bouquets of tightly packed, long stems topped with petite, convex caps. The snow-white caps are tender, smooth, delicate, and are connected to matching white stems that are thin and can grow up to twelve centimeters in length. Golden Mushroom are crisp and firm with a crunchy bite and a mild, fruity flavor. Golden Mushroom contain dietary fiber, niacin, calcium, potassium, selenium, copper, phosphorus, and iron. They are also known to have anti-inflammatory properties and are excellent immune system boosters. USES Golden Mushroom are best suited for both raw and cooked applications such as simmering, blanching, and boiling. Before consuming, the ends should be trimmed, the mushrooms should be washed, and any slimy stems should be discarded. The delicate, crunchy texture of Golden Mushroom can be served fresh in salads, lightly sauteed and added into stir-fries and noodle dishes, mixed into omelets, risottos, curries, sushi, or even in spring rolls. They are most commonly used in hot pot soups, added in for texture, but they can also be blanched in a soy sauce-based mixture and served as a main dish. Golden Mushroom pair well with soba noodles, vermicelli, soy sauce, miso, garlic, onion, scallions, seaweed, kale, ginger, bacon, seafood such as crab, lobster, or shrimp, lemongrass, fresh herbs, long beans, carrots, celery, snap peas, bell pepper, and water chestnuts. They will keep up to one week when stored in a paper bag in the refrigerator. Season Golden Mushroom are available year-round.
PRODUCT INFO Shiitake mushrooms range in colors from amber to paper bag-brown. Each mushroom has an umbrella shaped cap with a curled rim. Their caps have a cream-colored supple-firm interior. Unlike mature shiitake mushrooms, Shiitake mushrooms are entirely edible as their thin stalks are still tender when young. When cooked, shiitakes release a garlic-pine aroma and have a rich, earthy, umami flavor. These shiitakes are farm raised and harvested on protein-filled sterile sawdust logs that have been inoculated with shiitake spores. The individual logs can produce over 4 pounds of mushrooms during their lifetime. They are also 100% recyclable; once the logs are exhausted they can be used for composting or as a natural fertilizer. USES Shiitake mushrooms, like mature Shiitake, are widely used in Asian cuisine. They are not limited to Asian recipes, though, and as a cultivated variety, they may be substituted in recipes calling for "wild mushrooms". Pair shiitake with Asian mustard greens, eggplant, rice, noodles, garlic, soy and chile. May be sauteed, roasted or skewered and grilled. Season Shiitake mushrooms are harvested on logs year-round. Their growth, and hence availability, is dependent upon how well the log feeds them.
PRODUCT INFO Asparagus grow to about 22 centimeters in length and 16 millimeters in diameter. Its deep pistachio-green stalks are tender at the tip and slightly woody and thick towards the end, and a slight purple blush often occurs around the stalk and throughout the conical tip. Asparagus' mildly grassy and sweet flavor matches that of its larger and smaller counterparts. Asparagus, botanically known as Asparagus officinalis, is a member of the Liliaceae family. Considered a perennial herb, asparagus has an underground rhizome from which its edible young stems, known as spears, emerge during the spring and summer months. Asparagus plants are either male or female, the females volunteer seeds while males do not. Having less energy spent on producing seeds creates a thicker, more flavorful stalk, driving higher demand for male asparagus. This demand for male asparagus has put new cultivars on the market bred to produce only male plants. These cultivars include Jersey Giant, Jersey Supreme and Jersey Knight and all are cost efficient. Season Asparagus is available year-round, with a peak season in spring.
PRODUCT INFO Lettuce Mix is comprised of individual, medium sized leaves, measuring approximately 3 to 5 centimeters in length, and range in shape from flat, elongated, and oval to slightly curled, frilly, and deeply lobed. The leaves also vary in color from dark green to a deep red, burgundy hue. The leaves are tender, pliable, and crisp with a succulent texture, and have a clean, mild, and nutty flavor with a slightly bitter finish. USES Perfect bed for fresh fruit plates. Appetizer and veggie trays adore this MicroGreen's pretty presence. Attractive side salad for main entrrees. Season MicroGreen Gourmet Lettuce Mix is available year-round.
PRODUCT INFO Lotus root is an oblong, tubular rhizome or stem that grows underground in bodies of water, averaging 5-10 centimeters in diameter and 10-20 centimeters in length. Appearing like underwater sausage links, the rhizomes are connected to other rhizomes via smaller roots creating groupings of 3 to 5 and can grow to be over one meter in length as a whole. When young, Lotus root has a firm texture with light purple to white skin that transforms into a brown-beige hue with darker brown speckling when mature. Underneath the thin skin, the flesh ranges in color from ivory to white and is crisp, light, and starchy. There are also numerous, symmetrical, air pockets patterned into a pinwheel shape in the flesh that extend the entire length of the rhizome. Lotus root has a dense and crunchy texture with a nutty and sweet flavor, similar to that of a water chestnut or taro root. The younger roots are more tender and used for fresh culinary purposes, whereas mature roots are used in extended cooking applications to develop a tender, potato-like texture. Considered a good source of energy as it is high in carbohydrates. It also contains vitamin C, manganese, zinc, iron, copper, vitamin B, potassium, and magnesium. USES Lotus root is best suited for cooked applications such as steaming, frying, braising, stir-frying, and boiling. After peeling the root, it should be immersed in acidulated water using vinegar or citrus to prevent discoloration. Lotus root can be blanched just slightly to remove any bitterness, cooled, and added to salads or crudite. It can also be sliced and braised until tender in soups, stir-fried, battered and fried into tempura, or thinly sliced and baked into chips. In India, Lotus root is boiled, mashed, and added to vegetarian kofta, which is a dumpling dish paired with spicy sauces. A traditional Korean dessert also utilizes Lotus root with soy sauce, honey, and sesame seeds called yeongun bokkum. Lotus roots pair well with mushrooms, peppers, snap peas, snow peas, asparagus, corn, celery, cucumber, oyster sauce, peanuts, red beans, and sesame seeds. Lotus root will keep up to two weeks when stored whole, wrapped in damp paper towels, and placed in a plastic bag in the refrigerator. Sliced Lotus root can be stored in an acidulated water solution for a couple of days, or it can be frozen for long-term storage. SEASON Lotus root is available year-round, with a peak season in the fall.
PRODUCT INFO Peteh beans (Sator) pods are medium to large in size, averaging 30-45 centimeters in length, and are long, wide, ribbon-like, and sometimes twisted in shape. The green pods grow in clusters on tall trees, and when immature, the pods are flat and almost translucent. As they mature, the seeds begin to form within the pod causing protrusions, and the pod becomes tough, hard, and vibrant green. Inside the pod, there is a cream-colored, slippery film that encases the seeds and each pod can hold 15-20 seeds. The seeds are pale green and are similar in size to almonds. Peteh beans have an unusual smell, often compared to natural gas, and are crisp, soft, and tender with a rich and pungent flavor. Peteh beans (Sator) contain fiber, iron, calcium, potassium, vitamin C, riboflavin, and thiamin. USES Peteh beans (Sator) are best suited for cooked applications such as roasting, stir-frying, deep-frying, and sauteing. When young, the pods do not contain fully developed seeds and can be used whole in stir-fries or consumed raw, pickled, or fried. When mature, Peteh beans must be peeled before cooking and can be boiled in coconut milk or stir-fried with shrimp, curry paste, garlic, and chilies. It can also be roasted in the pods and eaten similar to edamame. To remove the seeds, carefully use a sharp knife to cut the pod or scrape the outer layer off into a bowl. Peteh beans can be dried, causing the seeds to turn black, and stored for extended use, or the beans can be pickled in a sour brine, creating a slightly rubbery texture without the loss of flavor. Peteh beans pairs well with chilies, garlic, onions, turmeric, lemongrass, kaffir lime leaves, shrimp paste, oyster sauce, shrimp, beef, pork, or poultry, and rice. The beans will keep for a week when stored in a cool and dry place and will keep for a couple of months when fermented. SEASON Peteh Bean is available year-round.
PRODUCT INFO Peteh beans (sator seed) it flat edible beans with bright green seeds the size and shape of plump almonds which have a rather peculiar smell, similar to, but stronger than that of the shiitake mushroom, due to sulfur-containing compounds also found in shiitake, truffles and cabbage. In Thailand it is called sah-taw look like broad beans. Like mature broad beans, they may have to be peeled before cooking. Peteh bean has earned its nickname 'stink bean' because its strong smell is very pervasive. It lingers in the mouth and body. Like asparagus, it contains certain amino acids that give a strong smell to one's urine, an effect that can be noticed up to two days after consumption. Like other beans, their complex carbohydrates can also cause strong-smelling flatulence. USES Peteh beans (sator seed) are best when combined with other strong flavoured foods such as garlic, chilli peppers, and dried shrimp, as in sambal petai or added to a Thai curry such as Thai Green Curry of Duck. When young the pods are flat because the seeds have not yet developed, and they hang like a bunch of slightly twisted ribbons, pale green, almost translucent. At this stage they may be eaten raw, fried or pickled. Young tender pods with undeveloped beans can be used whole in stir fried dishes. In North-eastern India, the seeds or the bean as a whole are eaten by preparing a local delicacy call Iromba or Yongchak singju. Seeds are also dried and seasoned for later consumption. When dried the seeds turn black. In Indonesia, petai is very popular in the highlands of Java. SEASON Peteh beans (sator seed) are available between Jun - Jul each year.
PRODUCT INFO The pods of the Drumstick or Moringa tree are long, smooth-skinned, dark green, and three-sided. The pods, which can reach anywhere from 6 to 18 inches in length, are soft when mature and have bumps that run the length of the pod, revealing the seed nodes. Within the pods is a fleshy pulp and pea-sized seeds encased in wing-shaped hulls. The Drumsticks are tapered at each end. Moringa pods are bitter with a somewhat sweet taste; their muted flavor allows for a variety of seasoning options. Drumstick pods are rich in nutrients like iron, vitamin c, beta-carotene, copper and iodine. USES Young Drumstick pods are ready to eat when they snap apart when bent in half. If the pod is too old, it becomes fibrous and woody. Drumstick pods are typically prepared by cutting into one or two inch pieces and adding to soups, curries, and Sambhar. They are pickled, boiled, steamed, and fried. Drumsticks can be prepared much like green beans or asparagus. The pods can be sliced lengthwise and the pulp scooped out and eaten; in India this is a delicacy. SEASON Moringa Drumstick are available year-round in warmer, tropical regions.
PRODUCT INFO Lotus stem (Sai Bua) are the edible parts of the lotus flower which is found under water. It is usually crunchy and is fairly sweet and has a flavor like water chestnut. It has a delicate flavor. Almost all parts of the plant like the root, young flower stalks, seeds, etc. are edible. The stem is lime green in color with a whitish flesh. Store it in the refrigerator; it lasts for about a week. Lotus stem is very healthy being a great source of dietary fiber. It contains minerals like copper, iron, zinc, magnesium and manganese. It boosts the production of red blood cells. It has a high content of vitamin C which helps to protect our body from scurvy and increases immunity. USES Lotus stem is eaten raw when added in salads. Its salad along with pork and prawns is a delicacy in many popular cultures. Lotus stem curry is prepared by boiling or stir-frying the stem. The curry is a good accompaniment for rotis and rice. SEASONS Lotus stem is available year-round.
PRODUCT INFO Neem plant (dok sa-dao) are local herbs and vegetables. It is a large protruding plant with a bouquet of flowers with a long peduncle. out at the tip of the branch with small flowers on the stem It is spherical, small, the petals are 5 petals, are off-white, with a long tube in the center. short peduncle It has a sweet, slightly bitter taste. Neem plant bloom in early winter. Native to India a tropical plant It has been cultivated in many countries in general. Many parts are used for use and medicinal properties. Used to treat many diseases. It has a bitter taste that many people like to use leaves, young shoots and flowers to eat. USES It has a bitter and oily taste is eaten as food. Contains nutrients that help the body's immune system Resist pathogens that exist around the body especially the flu. In addition to the benefits of food Almost every part of neem is still popularly used as medicine. The bark, leaves, branches, stems, flowers, fruits, seeds and even the roots of neem. SEASONS Neem plant (dok sa-dao) is available between Jan - Mar each year.
PRODUCT INFO Phak wan are vegetables that can be used to cook many types of food. and also a medicinal plant high nutritional value It is a source of protein, vitamin C, beta-carotene, which aids in vision, nourishes the eyes and has antioxidant properties with high calcium and phosphorus. Helps maintain strong bones and teeth and Contains dietary fiber that helps in excretion It is also both food and medicine of the summer. Cure the symptoms of the fire element according to Thai traditional medicine. The most popular part is used for cooking. It has a sweet, crispy flavor that helps to cure the heat in thirsty. and cooling or cooking green medicine to reduce fever, reduce heat. USES When used in cooking, the shoots, young leaves and young fruit bunches of both types of Phak Wan are sweet, crispy, delicious and can be used in many types of cooking, whether it's boiled with chili paste or jaew, stir-fried, soft, curry with bamboo shoots, or curry, mushroom curry, curry. Liang, clear soup, stir-fried vegetables, vegetable salad SEASON Phak wan is available year-round.
Chinese Convolvulus
PRODUCT INFO Cherry tomatoes taste similar to other fresh tomatoes, but because of their small size, the flavor can be a little more concentrated. Bright and sweet, they have a thin, snappy peel and a very juicy center. Some varieties are sweeter or milder than others. Cooked, they take on a deeper flavor, similar to the transformation from fresh tomatoes to tomato sauce. The origin of cherry tomatoes, now a popular snack and part of everyday cuisine, can be traced back to Mexico, the birthplace of all tomatoes. The Aztecs were eating tomatoes of all shapes and sizes, but modern-day cherry tomatoes are based on a variety bred by British and Israeli scientists in the 1970s. They're available year-round and are grown and eaten all over the world both raw and cooked. USES Cherry tomatoes are a small variety of tomato that is named for its shape which resembles a cherry. Sometimes sold on the vine, the vegetable can range from a little smaller than a cherry to about twice the size, and can be red (the most common color), yellow, orange, green, or almost black. These tomatoes are prized by chefs for their juiciness and thin skin, which causes the fruits to pop in your mouth when eaten. Like all tomatoes, cherry tomatoes are best in the summer, but because of their small size, they can also be grown in a greenhouse while still maintaining much of their flavor and texture. The affordable veggie can be eaten as is after a quick rinse and doesn't require peeling, seeding, or even chopping. Season Cherry tomatoes are available year-round.
- Cherry tomatoes taste similar to other fresh tomatoes, but because of their small size, the flavor can be a little more concentrated. Bright and sweet, they have a thin, snappy peel and a very juicy center. Some varieties are sweeter or milder than others. Cooked, they take on a deeper flavor, similar to the transformation from fresh tomatoes to tomato sauce. - The origin of cherry tomatoes, now a popular snack and part of everyday cuisine, can be traced back to Mexico, the birthplace of all tomatoes. The Aztecs were eating tomatoes of all shapes and sizes, but modern-day cherry tomatoes are based on a variety bred by British and Israeli scientists in the 1970s. They're available year-round and are grown and eaten all over the world both raw and cooked. - Cherry tomatoes are a small variety of tomato that is named for its shape which resembles a cherry. Sometimes sold on the vine, the vegetable can range from a little smaller than a cherry to about twice the size, and can be red (the most common color), yellow, orange, green, or almost black. These tomatoes are prized by chefs for their juiciness and thin skin, which causes the fruits to pop in your mouth when eaten. Like all tomatoes, cherry tomatoes are best in the summer, but because of their small size, they can also be grown in a greenhouse while still maintaining much of their flavor and texture. The affordable veggie can be eaten as is after a quick rinse and doesn't require peeling, seeding, or even chopping. - Cherry tomatoes are available year-round.
