Produce Briefs...
Orange Honeydew Melon
Oval-to-round and a delicious cross between a cantaloupe and a honeydew, the very fleshy juicy orangish-yellow pulp of the orange honeydew melon is encased in a hard very yellow matching rind.
Iceberg Lettuce
It is the only lettuce type that does not occur in red form as well as green. Iceberg is the given name to dozens of cultivars of lettuce, all of which are adapted to specific planting regions and time periods.
Seasons/Availability
Fresh bamboo shoots are available throughout the year with a peak season from late Spring to early Summer.
Current Facts
Fresh bamboo shoots are young, new bamboo canes that are harvested before they are two weeks old or one-foot tall. They are harvested for their tender ivory-colored inner core.
Description/Taste
Fresh bamboo shoots vary from an inch up to seven inches wide at their base. They consist of several fibrous layers tightly bound and overlapping one another to form a conical point. Their color is plantain yellow with brown markings throughout. The bamboo shoot's flavor is mild and sweet, similar to that of baby corn.
Applications
Fresh bamboo shoots must be cooked before eating as raw shoots are bitter and texturally hard to digest. The outer leaves are tough and will not be edible regardless of cooking, thus they should be removed prior to cooking. It is recommended to boil or steam for 20 minutes prior to actually utilizing them further. Bamboo shoots can be stir fried, grilled, roasted, marinated and pickled.
Ethnic/Cultural Info
Bamboo shoots are used frequently in Asian cuisine. Commercially canned bamboo shoots are common, but freshly harvested bamboo has far better flavor and texture.
Geography/History
Native to Asia, bamboo's natural habitat includes every continent except Antarctica and Europe. Bamboo forests still exist in Southeast Asia and Hawaii. Growing in most soil types, bamboo plants do not like drought or swampy conditions. They do, however, like to be near water. There are over twelve hundred varieties or species of bamboo. In the mainland United States, bamboo grows in southern Florida, coastal California and throughout the Gulf States.
Recipe Ideas
Recipes that include Bamboo Shoots Fresh. One
is easiest, three is harder.Recently Spotted
Someone spotted Bamboo Shoots Fresh using the Specialty Produce app for iPhone and Android.
Produce Spotting allows you to share your produce discoveries with your neighbors and the world! Is your market carrying green dragon apples? Is a chef doing things with shaved fennel that are out of this world? Pinpoint your location annonymously through the Specialty Produce App and let others know about unique flavors that are around them.
|
Santa Monica Farmers Market Near Santa Monica, California, United States About 12 days ago Spotter's comments : Mud Creek Ranch, Santa Paula, CA certified organic. |
