Melissa’s World Variety Produce is a company that’s known by all in the food industry. They are currently the largest distributor of specialty produce in the United States, and there is not one chef in OC who hasn’t heard of Melissa’s. Recently, I attended an event at Melissa’s where the Top Food Trends of 2016 was revealed. Here are the Top 5!
5. Brussels Sprouts
I thought Brussels sprouts are on the way out, but no! According to Melissa’s Robert Schuller, Brussels sprouts will continue to shine this year, earning fifth place on the ladder. I used to hate Brussels sprouts growing up, but it was because my mom would overcook them. Luckily, my son loves them and it is one of the vegetables I cook a lot of. We use garlic and pancetta to add flavor to these little cabbage-like veggies.
4. Passion Fruit
It took me several tries as a young adult to figure out how to eat passion fruit. I remember opening the fruit in my early 20s and finding acrid pulp inside. Turns out, you have to wait for the outside to shrivel up before you cut it open. Then, you’ll find beautifully sweet and tart pulp with the distinctive crunch of the seeds which I like to scoop and drop over vanilla ice cream, plain yogurt, or just eat it with a spoon.
3. Turmeric Root
Probably best known as India’s ginger root, turmeric is bright yellow in color, and often used medicinally in Asia. I like to add turmeric powder when I cook rice to give it a beautiful hue. These days, people are adding fresh turmeric root into their juicing regimen. Turmeric is also known to be an anti-inflammatory, so instead of popping a pill, try this bright, colorful rhizome instead.
2. Persian Cucumber
I must admit, I eat a lot of Persian cucumbers. I eat them as snacks by sprinkling Tajin, or sliced and added into sandwiches, wraps, and even accompanies my scrambled eggs in the morning. I love Persian cucumbers because they don’t require anything other than a quick wash under the tap and they’re ready to go!
1. Young Coconut
Growing up in Malaysia, coconuts were abundant all over. Your neighbor might have a coconut tree in his yard, and chances are, there will be coconuts on them. Back then, all we knew was the water or juice of the coconut is delightfully refreshing, and we love to drink it out of the shell with a straw stuck inside. When we were done, we would scoop the young coconut flesh out with a spoon and slurp it. No one knew about the wonderful electrolytes about the coconut until recently. Now it’s a craze!
How many of these do you currently incorporate into your diet? If you do, how do you use them? If not, will you?
Nice write about Turmeric
Thank you Arvind