The Unique Vegetable Called Puntarelle: A Closer Look
When you think of Italian cuisine, pasta dishes or pizza might spring to mind. However, the country is also home to a unique vegetable that’s worth exploring – puntarelle.
This lesser-known wonder has been creating ripples in the culinary world for its unique flavour and impressive health benefits.
What is Puntarelle?
Puntarelle, or Cichorium intybus, is a chicory variant hailing from the areas surrounding Rome.
Sometimes referred to as ‘Asparagus Chicory’, it gets this moniker due to its elongated, thin stalks. Exhibiting a pale green hue, puntarelle provides a crunchy mouthfeel with a slight tinge of bitterness.
The heads of this unusual vegetable are made up of buds that bloom into curly sprigs, adding a delightful visual element to any meal. With its combination of intriguing appearance and unique taste, puntarelle offers a culinary experience that extends beyond the ordinary.
How to use it
Puntarelle offers vast potential due to its adaptability in various dishes.
You can enjoy this unique vegetable raw, adding a bold, slightly bitter edge to salads. Its unique flavour profiles are particularly enhanced when paired with robust dressings, as demonstrated in the traditional Roman dish “Puntarelle alla Romana,” where it’s served with a punchy anchovy and garlic vinaigrette.
You can also experiment with cooking methods such as sautéing, blanching, or grilling.
Each method brings out a different dimension of the vegetable’s taste and texture, allowing you to incorporate it into a myriad of dishes.
Whether you’re creating a standout side dish or looking for an unusual salad ingredient, puntarelle proves to be an invaluable addition to your cooking arsenal.
Availability
Recognised as a winter delicacy, puntarelle can usually be sourced from November until February.
If you would like to source some Puntarelle for your establishment, or if you would like to know more about our range of Italian produce, fresh in from the Milan markets, get in touch with us:
Call us on 01793 683299 or email orders@fsfruit.co.uk
