The Italian Chicory Radicchio is a form of chicory and because it originated and is frequently used in this country's cuisine, it is also named Italian chicory. Even though the round varieties resemble red cabbage the flavours are completely different, with radicchio being bitter, crisp and very fresh and red cabbage having a distinct cabbage … Continue reading Radicchio
Month: August 2020
Jerusalem Artichoke – Topinambur
Sunflowers little sibling Despite their Middle Eastern name, Jerusalem artichokes are neither from Israel nor are they closely related to artichokes. The name is most likely connected to a mistranslation of the Italian name for sunflower, as the tuber vegetable is actually a close relative to the commonly known flower. It also goes by the … Continue reading Jerusalem Artichoke – Topinambur
Butternut Squash – Butternusskürbis
The sweetest of the squashes For more than 12,000 years humans have been enjoying squash. Botanically squashes belong to the Cucurbitaceae family which also includes cucumbers, melons and courgettes. Squashes originated in Middle and South America and are a hugely important crop for the entire American continent. One of the most flavourful of the squashes … Continue reading Butternut Squash – Butternusskürbis
Spinach – Spinat
Everyone’s favourite green Probably the most versatile and universally liked leafy greens, spinach has its origin in ancient Persia. It’s part of the amaranth family, alongside vegetables like chard and pseudo grains like amaranth and quinoa. The healthy green is available all year round but is especially great during early spring when other fresh produce … Continue reading Spinach – Spinat
Sweet potato – Süßkartoffel
The sweet root Even though sweet potato shares its origin and name with the humble potato, they aren’t directly related. Sweet potatoes aren’t a member of the nightshade family but instead belong to the bindweed family, which also includes the eponymous pesky weed found in many gardens. However the name is fitting as it’s a … Continue reading Sweet potato – Süßkartoffel
Swiss Chard – Mangold
The rainbow vegetable This leafy green is a relative of beetroot and has a similar, if not slightly more intense flavour than spinach. Swiss chard’s origins are in the south of Europe and the vegetable is especially popular in the Mediterranean and the Middle East. It’s available all year round but is especially delicious from … Continue reading Swiss Chard – Mangold
Ceasar’s mushroom – Kaiserling
The Emperors favourite The glorious caesar's mushroom carries its royal name for good reason, it was a firm favorite of Roman emperors. The mushroom has a bright orange cap with a yellow stem and gills. It’s a rare mushroom that can’t be cultivated and even has a protected status in some countries. It can be … Continue reading Ceasar’s mushroom – Kaiserling
Cauliflower – Blumenkohl
The meaty flower Just like its cousin broccoli, cauliflower is part of the brassica family and is actually the flower of the plant. Another name for the veggie is Cyprus Kale because it is believed to have originated from the island. Cauliflower is probably the most mildly-flavoured member of the brassica family and because of … Continue reading Cauliflower – Blumenkohl
Kohlrabi
The versatile bulb This lovechild of cabbage & white turnip is such a quintessentially German ingredient that several languages, including English, have kept the German name. Kohlrabi is a great source of vitamin C as it contains even more than oranges. In terms of taste it is softer than turnip and slightly sweeter with a … Continue reading Kohlrabi
Chanterelle – Pfifferling
The golden trumpet This beautiful gold-orange colored mushroom known as chanterelle or girolle mushroom is one of Europe’s most popular ones and can be found from late summer to late autumn. These mushrooms are notoriously hard to cultivate which is why they are some of the more expensive ones. Most chanterelles are foraged directly from … Continue reading Chanterelle – Pfifferling
The Food Library 