weird vegetables

Manioc, also often called cassava, is a starchy root vegetable originally found throughout South America. The crop is a crucial source of carbohydrates in the developing world; it is estimated it provides the majority of carbs for around 502 million people worldwide. It is particularly valuable for its drought tolerance, an uncommon trait for a crop that hails from tropical and subtropical zones.Despite its widespread use, manioc is a rare find in North American supermarkets. One reason for this is that it can be difficult to prepare, and even toxic if not prepared correctly. But once made edible, manioc can be used much in the same way as potatoes.

Seaweed found clinging to a shoreline might not be something that typically whets your appetite, but you might be pleasantly surprised by dulse. Common in the North Atlantic, this vegetable of the sea is called s

Misleadingly named after their length (they rarely grow much longer than half a yard, truth be told), these green bean pods native to Southeast Asia are the perfect complement to any stir fry. What really sets them apart as a crop is how fast they grow: Cultivators will notice significant growth on a daily basis. They are also known as Chinese long beans. You can prepare them in pretty much all the same ways as most other bean pods, and the flavors will be similar, but they really help to make your Asian stir fry more authentic. They are a great source of fiber and vitamins C and A.

Residents of New England, especially Maine, may not think these are exotic. They are a traditional vegetable dish throughout the region, occasionally served boiled, in a salad or with mayonnaise or butter. For the rest of the country, though, fiddleheads probably look more like alien appendages than a vegetable. They are actually the furled fronds of a baby fern. One reason they re so rare outside of their native regions is that they are not cultivated only harvested from the wild and so are only found locally and seasonally. Foraging for fiddleheads is also for experts only: Much like with mushrooms, not all ferns are edible and some are poisonous.They are packed with nutrients and acclaimed for their succulent flavor. Fiddleheads are full of omega 3 fatty acids and fiber, and contain twice the antioxidant quality of blueberries.

It may look like something from outer space (and, in fact, it once made an appearance on Star Trek), but the Kiwano melon is actually grown in Southern Africa, California and New Zealand. Nicknamed the

Don t adjust your screen this unique spud is, in fact, purple. Native to Okinawa, Japan (and often referred to as Okinawan sweet potato ), this uniquely coloured veggie is also a big hit in Hawaii. The fun thing about the purple sweet potato is that it provides an element of surprise you don t realize just how cool it is until you peel back the skin. Like its regular sweet potato counterpart, the purple sweet potato is a good source of vitamins A and C. And since its such a versatile food it is a potato, after all you can use it to create some eye catching dishes that are sure to impress at your next dinner party. Look for it at your local Asian market.

The bottle gourd grows in tropical areas all over the world and can actually be used as a real bottle, rather than eaten.

Black Spanish or Black Spanish Round occur in both round and elongated forms, and are sometimes simply called the black radish or known by the French name Gros Noir d Hiver.

While the chayote is technically a fruit, it is often cooked like a vegetable. It is compared to a potato or a cucumber and can be boiled, fried, baked, or pickled. The plant is native to Mexico and Central America, but locals in Australia and New Zealand grow chayotes in their gardens.

Dandelion greens are more commonly known as a particularly bothersome weed. However, it turns out that these