There is a lot of food that we are not used to eat. These vegetables are little known in the most countries of the world. But they can be eaten, and may taste good. Never too late to try something new!
1. Romanesco
This vegetable is actually an exotic variant of the cauliflower. If you're feeling tripped out while looking at it, that's because it is a natural approximation of a fractal. In fact, the spirals on the head of romanesco follow the Fibonacci pattern — so toss one into your next stir-fry if you really want to impress that math geek friend of yours.
2. Oca
Though this colorful root vegetable was originally cultivated in the Andes of South America, it is also sometimes called the "New Zealand yam" due to its popularity there after being introduced in the mid-1800s.
Though this colorful root vegetable was originally cultivated in the Andes of South America, it is also sometimes called the "New Zealand yam" due to its popularity there after being introduced in the mid-1800s.
3. Samphire
Sometimes called "sea asparagus," samphire is a remarkably rugged vegetable that you may have witnessed during a weekend trip to the coast. It grows in places few vegetables can: rocky, salt-sprayed regions near the ocean.
4. Tiger Nut
Though they're often called "nuts," these tubers are actually the root from the chufa sedge plant. They were originally cultivated in ancient Egypt, but today are common in Southern Europe too, particularly in Spain. Tiger nuts are often soaked in warm water before being eaten, and they have a sweet, nutty flavor.
5. Salsify
This plant might be related to the sunflower, but it's the edible root that is the real treat. Salsify has historically been popular as a food crop throughout Europe and as far as the Near East, and is also believed to have medicinal qualities. (In fact, it was once believed to be a cure for snake bites.)
