Stranger Things

THEY SAY A CHANGE IS AS GOOD AS A REST, AND AT THIS TIME OF YEAR SOME EXCITING NEW INGREDIENTS ARE JUST WHAT YOU NEED TO PUT A SPRING IN YOUR STEP, SAYS SIMONE MOMBERG

- Simone Momberg

If you’re bored with throwing together the same old meals, consider using some of these more interesting ingredients to mix things up. There’s a world of wonderful produce at our fingertips, and we’ve found some fabulous foods you may never have added to your shopping trolley.

Kohlrabi

Somewhere between a turnip and a cabbage, and taste similar to broccoli stems, kohlrabi can be enjoyed raw, cooked, steamed and roasted. High in vitamin C and potassium, its versatility makes it a very valuable vegetable to have on hand when you’re just not sure what to cook but looking for a nutrient-rich fix. These knobby little beauties can often be found at specialty grocers, and make seasonal appearances in some supermarkets.

Dragon fruit

Possibly the prettiest of all the fruits, dragon fruit has hot pink skin that peels back to reveal white flesh studded with tiny black seeds. Its vibrant appearance is in contrast to its subtly sweet flavor, which is reminiscent of watermelon but a bit more delicate. Crisp and refreshing, it’s delicious in fruit salads and breakfast bowls or eaten as is. In addition to its striking looks, dragon fruit is a powerhouse of phytonutrients and antioxidants, so it benefits your body as well as your taste buds. Indigenous to Central and South America, it’s now grown all over the world, and your best bets for finding it are Asian supermarkets and farmers’ markets.

Arame