Produce Briefs...
Fingerling Russian Banana Potatoes
Although very petit in size, fingerlings are fully mature when harvested, thus they should not to be confused with new potatoes, potatoes that are harvested when immature.
White Corn
White corn is a sweet corn variety. Its ears are wrapped in tightly layered pale lime green to white husks. One ear of corn can contain up to 400 kernels growing in rows lengthwise.
Seasons/Availability
Purple Brussels Sprouts are available in the winter and early spring.
Current Facts
Brussels sprouts, botanical name Brassica oleracea, belong to the Brassicaceae family. Thus they are kin to broccoli and cabbage. The sprouts are the axillary buds of the plant, which grow progressively from an upward sprouting stem. The Brassicaceae is an economically important food plant family known as the mustard plants, crucifers and cabbages. Modern cultivars of Brussels sprouts have been developed to remove the bitterness that they have been historically associated with. Bitterness can also be tempered with seasonally specific planting. Winter induces the plant's food reserves to convert into sugar, providing sweeter more palatable sprouts.
Description/Taste
Baby Purple Brussels sprouts are compact, tightly enveloped leaves bound into a oval sphere-shaped bud ranging in diameter of a mere 1/2 inch when mature. Their leaves range from layers of deep purple to sea green with violet red tips and veins. Baby Purple Brussels sprouts have complex flavors of earth, nuts and slightly bittersweet overtures.
Applications
Classic cooking methods for Brussels sprouts include roasting, braising or pan frying them in butter with savory accoutrements such as garlic, shallots, thyme, rosemary and sage. Brussels sprouts take on the accompanying flavors which gives them more depth and appeal while also bringing sweetness to the Brussels sprouts. Slow roasting the sprouts in oil or butter is a great way to remove the sprout's natural bitterness. The smaller the sprout, the more sweet and the less bitter tendencies it will have. Purple Brussels sprouts can be added to casseroles, gratins, soups and they are a great addition to Winter roasted vegetable medleys. They can also be tossed into a warm Winter greens salad. Other great culinary matches include bacon, pork belly, cheese, cream, duck fat, eggs, ham, grapefruit, cider vinegar, lemon, hollandaise, maple, mushrooms, mustard, nutmeg, pepper, pistachios and pancetta.
Geography/History
Purple Brussels Sprouts can trace their heritage to Belgium, specifically a region near its capital, Brussels, after which they are named. Brussels sprouts have remained a local crop in Belgium since World War I. The first purple variety of Brussels sprouts was originally developed by breeding a red cabbage variety with a green Brussels sprouts variety by Dutch plant breeder C.N. Vreeken in the early 1940's. Brussels sprouts are now cultivated throughout Europe and have been naturalized in the United States. They are hardy enough to withstand frost and frozen temperatures, making them a suitable crop for all Northern hemisphere growing regions. In fact, farmers will claim with certainty that the Brussels sprouts kissed by frost will indeed be sweeter.
Recipe Ideas
Recipes that include Baby Purple Brussels Sprouts. One
is easiest, three is harder.
Purple Brussels Sprouts are available in the winter and early spring.
Current Facts
Brussels sprouts, botanical name Brassica oleracea, belong to the Brassicaceae family. Thus they are kin to broccoli and cabbage. The sprouts are the axillary buds of the plant, which grow progressively from an upward sprouting stem. The Brassicaceae is an economically important food plant family known as the mustard plants, crucifers and cabbages. Modern cultivars of Brussels sprouts have been developed to remove the bitterness that they have been historically associated with. Bitterness can also be tempered with seasonally specific planting. Winter induces the plant's food reserves to convert into sugar, providing sweeter more palatable sprouts.
Description/Taste
Baby Purple Brussels sprouts are compact, tightly enveloped leaves bound into a oval sphere-shaped bud ranging in diameter of a mere 1/2 inch when mature. Their leaves range from layers of deep purple to sea green with violet red tips and veins. Baby Purple Brussels sprouts have complex flavors of earth, nuts and slightly bittersweet overtures.
Applications
Classic cooking methods for Brussels sprouts include roasting, braising or pan frying them in butter with savory accoutrements such as garlic, shallots, thyme, rosemary and sage. Brussels sprouts take on the accompanying flavors which gives them more depth and appeal while also bringing sweetness to the Brussels sprouts. Slow roasting the sprouts in oil or butter is a great way to remove the sprout's natural bitterness. The smaller the sprout, the more sweet and the less bitter tendencies it will have. Purple Brussels sprouts can be added to casseroles, gratins, soups and they are a great addition to Winter roasted vegetable medleys. They can also be tossed into a warm Winter greens salad. Other great culinary matches include bacon, pork belly, cheese, cream, duck fat, eggs, ham, grapefruit, cider vinegar, lemon, hollandaise, maple, mushrooms, mustard, nutmeg, pepper, pistachios and pancetta.
Geography/History
Purple Brussels Sprouts can trace their heritage to Belgium, specifically a region near its capital, Brussels, after which they are named. Brussels sprouts have remained a local crop in Belgium since World War I. The first purple variety of Brussels sprouts was originally developed by breeding a red cabbage variety with a green Brussels sprouts variety by Dutch plant breeder C.N. Vreeken in the early 1940's. Brussels sprouts are now cultivated throughout Europe and have been naturalized in the United States. They are hardy enough to withstand frost and frozen temperatures, making them a suitable crop for all Northern hemisphere growing regions. In fact, farmers will claim with certainty that the Brussels sprouts kissed by frost will indeed be sweeter.
Recipe Ideas
Recipes that include Baby Purple Brussels Sprouts. One
is easiest, three is harder.
