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.
Mache
Mache has been cultivated in France since the 17th century, and in France it is known as doucette. It is also known as "lamb's lettuce" because its leaves resemble the size and shape of a lamb's tongue.
Seasons/Availability
Late winter through spring. Usually found at farmers markets.
Description/Taste
Red spinach leaves are round, thick, and rich green with an bright red coloring along the central stem area. Red spinach has a sweet, green flavor and delicate texture very similar to standard spinach.
Nutritional Value
Very low in calories, fresh spinach is a good source of vitamin C, vitamin A, plus iron and other essential minerals.
Applications
Red spinach can be eaten fresh or cook and stands up well to wilting and sauteing. Use as a salad leaf or as a dark, leafy green. Pair with spring vegetables, citrus, berries, eggs, nuts, bacon, pasta, and fresh cheeses. Flavor with Indian or Middle Eastern spices, creams, ginger, garlic, shallots, chiles and soy. Red spinach will keep, dry and refrigerated, for one to two weeks.
Ethnic/Cultural Info
Most seed suppliers classify spinach varieties by the appearance of their leaf types: flat and smooth leaves, leaves that are semi-savoyed (crinkled) or those that are heavily savoyed or somewhere in between.
Geography/History
Spinach, a cultivated plant of the genus Spinacia oleracea, is native to, or close to, Persia. Cultivation later moved to Spain with the invading Moors around 1100-1200 A.D. Preferring cool temperatures, sandy soil and some dryness, spinach grows well in California and Texas. Spinach is a cool season crop and belongs to the goosefoot family, Chenopodiaceae, along with beets and Swiss chard.
Recipe Ideas
Recipes that include Red Spinach. One
is easiest, three is harder.Recently Spotted
Someone spotted Red Spinach 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.
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No190 North Chongqing Road Near Shanghai, Shanghai, China About 30 days ago |
