Anyone want to take a guess as to what this might be? I have also heard it referred to as the “Fibonacci Vegetable”, which reminds me of a certain other video I posted to this blog a while back. The good people at the local Holy Foods gave it to me for free when I expressed interest in it. And I have to say . . . it’s pretty tasty with a little garlic and a splash of tamari and sesame oil. No word on its use as a possible college dorm room poster subject.
Forget Sea Slugs . . . How about a Fractal Vegetable?
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Yeah, it’s a cauliflower, right? I can’t remember if it’s a different breed altogether or just a growth pattern. I’ve never bought one like that though, just seen ’em around on occasion.
i buy a frozen veggie mix at trader joes with romanesco in it. i love it. i have some in my freezer right now :) and it is cute, too!
You are both right! It is indeed romanesco, and it is closely related to the cauliflowers. See my next post!
I hear it’s more common in Europe… would totally go on a hunt whenever I find myself there! Not too surprising, given regularity of branching patterns in some (many) plant spp. But still awesome!
What’s even more awesome is that cauliflower, broccoli, kohlrabi, turnips (I *think*), cabbage and quite possibly this thing are all derived by humans from the same species. The wonders of recent genome duplications…
Yes! Absolutely — see my next post, “The Wolf of the Vegetable World” for further details. . .
Cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli, kohl rabi, kale and Brussels sprouts are all varieties of Brassica oleracea; turnips are a separate but closely related species, B. rapa. But B. rapa has itself also given rise to mustard greens and some varieties of rape (the seed crop, not the other sort). Rape is also derived from Brassica napus, the species that also includes swedes. After that, things get complicated.