Have you ever been to Pike’s Place Market? Recently I took a trip to Seattle, Washington and spent an afternoon at Pike’s Place Market, a very famous bayside outdoor market that sells crafts, seafood, and various other items. I was extremely impressed by the huge variety of colorful fruits and vegetables, many that I had never seen before. The vegetable that really caught my eye was this beautiful bright green spiral crown-shaped vegetable. I was so impressed by its unusual shape and pattern that I took its picture!! Taking a closer look at the sign I learned that this vegetable is called Romanesco Cauliflower. Curious, I decided to look up more information on this intriguing vegetable and this is what I found.
Searching online I quickly realized that I am not the only person drawn to photograph this vegetable. The photos of Romenesco Cauliflower are numerous! With its complex repeating self-similar form, apparently everyone is drawn to the beauty of this fractal food! Romanesco Cauliflower is commonly referred to as Romanesco Broccoli, Brocoflower, and Coral Broccoli. That would make sense since many people say that it tastes more like broccoli rather than cauliflower. In several other languages it also translates into “pyramid cauliflower” making complete sense of its pyramid shape and “Romanesco Cabbage”. Romanesco Cauliflower is rich in vitamin C, fiber, and carotenoids that serve as a great source for vitamin A protecting the body from a number of chronic illnesses. Delicate enough that many people enjoy eating it raw with dip; Romanesco Cauliflower can also be prepared like Cauliflower or Broccoli or replace either in any dish.
I challenge you to try a new vegetable this week! Visit your local Farmer’s Market or grocery store and find something new from the produce section to try. Take your family with you and have everyone participate in choosing a new or different vegetable to prepare with your meal! Every person should be eating 3 to 5 cups of fruits and vegetables everyday! Eating enough vegetables every day makes sure that you are getting enough vitamins and minerals for your body to stay healthy and heal it's self. A great way to make sure that you are eating enough fruits and vegetables is by trying something new and exciting often! I encourage you to take the “new to you vegetable challenge” this week!
