Let’s face it, most of us rotate through the same vegetable routine: carrots, broccoli, lettuce, and maybe a bell pepper if we’re feeling bold! However, the plant world is full of fascinating, delicious vegetables that rarely make it into our kitchens or onto our plates. At Inspire Catering, we believe that they all deserve their moment in the spotlight, so this Eat Your Vegetables Day, why not step outside your comfort zone and explore some of these lesser-known veggies that are just as taste and healthy as the usual suspects!

1: Romanesco

This unusual looking vegetable, bright green with its spiralling florets, is a type of Brassica oleracea which is the same vegetable family as broccoli and cauliflower. Romanesco has a mild, nutty flavour and a firm texture which holds up well to roasting, steaming or sautéing. It’s as delicious as it is eye-catching, making it a great way to add both nutrition and beauty to your dishes! Here are our suggestions for serving Romanesco:

• Romanesco and tomato feta pasta bake
• Roasted Romanesco dhansak curry
• Crema di Cavolo Romanesco soup
• Centre piece of a veggie platter to add a real “wow” factor

2: Chinese Eggplant

The Chinese eggplant differs slightly from the chunky, round eggplant we all know and love. It is long and slender with thinner skin, fewer seeds, and a much milder, sweeter flavour. It also cooks quicker, making it perfect for a variety of cooking methods including stir-frying, grilling, or braising. The Chinese eggplant is a staple of many Asian dishes due to its tender texture, meaning it has the ability to quickly absorb sauces and hold onto the flavour, especially when paired with garlic, soy sauce, or spicy chili oil. Here are our serving suggestions for the Chinese eggplant:

• Chinese eggplant stir fry with ginger, garlic, and soy sauce
• Szechuan Chinese eggplant served with rice or quinoa
• Chinese eggplant and minced pork in black bean sauce

3: Kohlrabi

Kohlrabi is an odd-looking vegetable, its round and bulbous with leafy stems that shoot out almost like antennae, but don’t let its appearance fool you. Kohlrabi is an underrates vegetable that has a crisp, juicy, and sweet taste. It is also incredibly good for you, being rich in vitamin C, potassium, and fibre. Once you try it, kohlrabi might just become a regular in your kitchen! Here are our recommendations for the best ways to enjoy this unique vegetable:

• Raw in slaws or salads for a refreshing crunch
• Kohlrabi stir-fry using bulb and leaves
• Kohlrabi fries paired with a homemade ranch dip

4: Celeriac

Also known as celery root, celeriac is one of the most underappreciated root vegetables, probably due to its strange, rough appearance. Beneath the rugged exterior though, lies a creamy, flavourful flesh with a subtle, earthy taste reminiscent of celery and parsley. It’s also low in carbs and high in fibre, vitamin K, and antioxidants, making it a smart choice for health-conscious eaters. You can mash it, blend it, roast it, or even fry it to make an excellent vegan alternative to steak. Here are our suggestions for enjoying this incredibly underrated vegetable:

• Celeriac, pancetta and thyme soup
• Parsnip and celeriac bake
• Celeriac dauphinoise for a lighter alternative to potatoes
• Creamy celeriac mash with carrot sticks to dip

5: Sunchokes (Jerusalem Artichoke)

Sunchokes, also known as Jerusalem artichokes, are knobbly vegetables that look quite like ginger. Despite their name, they are not actually related to artichokes or Jerusalem, instead they come from a species of sunflower and are native to North America. They have a slightly sweet yet nutty flavour with a texture that’s crisp when raw but creamy when cooked, making them a very versatile vegetable. They are rich in iron, potassium, and a prebiotic fibre called inulin that supports gut health. Here’s our suggestions for enjoying the sunchoke:  

• Crispy oven roasted smashed sunchokes seasoned with thyme butter and served with basil and mint dip
• Sunchoke and garlic soup
• Hasselback sunchokes with garlic butter
• Herby sunchoke salad with a squeeze of lemon

Venturing beyond the usual veggie aisle at the supermarket isn’t just good for your health, its also good for your tastebuds! Whether you’re planning to roast a Romanesco or whip up a Chinese eggplant stir-fry, adding new vegetables to your dishes keeps meals exciting and your body well-nourished. So, next time you’re at a farmer’s market or even just your local supermarket, pick up something unfamiliar and you might just discover your new favourite!