5 in season fruits & vegetables: December edition
Is it us or did the October ‘Seasonal Fruits & Vegetables’ feel like a lifetime ago? At last, we have now entered winter with the cooler temperatures finally giving us Christmas-y vibes! And we are SO here for it. We thought, why not share with you special recipes that are Christmas friendly and can be made to celebrate the holidays?
So bundle up CHOMPions, it’s going to be a “brrrr”illiant winter!
荷蘭豆 Snow Pea
In season between the months of December to March.
It's snow surprise that snow peas are the perfect winter vegetables. Known to withstand frost and cold, it’s only appropriate they carry their tough environment in their common name right? They can sometimes also be referred to as Chinese pea pods due to their Southwest Asian origin.
Snow peas have been cultivated for centuries and are often mistakenly interchangeable with the sugar snap peas. However, the main difference between the two types of peas is that snow peas have a flatter pod and smaller peas. Additionally, in just 100 grams of it, snow peas provide 100% of your daily vitamin C requirement.
Christmas recipe: if you are looking for a great side dish that is fresh and seasonal, then be sure to check out this delicious yet simple snow pea recipe.
椰菜花 Cauliflower
In season between the months of December to April.
Although humble in appearance, there is in fact little to do with humility with the cauliflower when it comes to its benefits. A vegetable that is low in carbohydrates and perfect for a keto-diet, the cauliflower is a versatile substitute to rice, pizza crust and even mashed potatoes. It also comes in purple, orange and green, who knew?
The cauliflower also lends itself very well to zero-waste recipes. The florets being the most popular part of the vegetable to be consumed, you can use the stalk to make a puree or roast the leaves in a simple garlic and oil coat.
Christmas recipe: If you are looking for a vegan alternative to roast turkey or ham, then make sure to check out this cauliflower steak recipe. It is satiating and full of flavour, you won’t even notice that it’s meatless!
芹菜 Celery
In season between the months of December to April.
Crunch and crispy, light and fresh. The celery owes its popularity to its low calorie, high water content (it is made up of 95% water!). This vegetable has gained momentum in diet trends as its fibrous benefits mean it keep you full for a very low calorie count - it has only 10 calories per stalk. Additionally, did you know that the celery is in the same family as carrots and parsley?
Nonetheless, here are some important tips to keep in mind when buying celery so you can maximise the benefits and freshness: pick ones with vibrant green leaves (avoid yellow and spotted leaves), stalks that are tightly bundled and crispy (avoid rubbery).
Christmas recipe: alright so we are fully aware that this is not a recipe to make DURING Christmas, but rather a POST Christmas leftover recipe. Whip out this fresh celery recipe and feel free to replace the chicken with your leftover roast turkey or ham.
橘子 Mandarin Orange
In season between the months of December to February.
Mandarins are, you guessed it, part of the citrus family! Orange you glad you came by to read our December’s seasonal fruit and vegetables blog for a few zesty holiday tips? (Alright, last ones we promise).
Mandarins are the smaller and sweeter cousins to oranges, they are slightly flatter but with thinner skin that make them easier to peel. And they are many different varieties of mandarins: Chinese honey mandarin, Satsumas (originate from Japan for example) and clementines. They are high in vitamin C and antioxidant content, lending to their health benefits.
It is recommended to store mandarin oranges outside the refrigerator for up to 1 week, however it is also fine to store them in the fridge if you want them to last longer.
Christmas recipe: try out this incredible mandarin orange salad as a tasteful side dish to refresh the palette between the filling Christmas dishes.
西洋菜 Water Cress
In season between the months of November to March.
Watercress, a water-loving plant, is extremely nutrient-dense, where just one cup (or around 34 grams) of it is enough to provide you with 100% of your recommended daily intake for vitamin K. The watercress is highly effective in preventing blood clots and promoting healthy bones.
This leafy green is a member of the mustard family. Its pungent, spicy and peppery taste is actually a defence mechanism that is activated when chewed, how cool right? In ancient times, the vegetable was believed to have a variety of benefits and capabilities. Such as preventing baldness, increasing vigour and being an aphrodisiac. NB: this is not scientifically proven! But we can hope there are elements of truth in there?
Christmas recipe: if you're looking for the perfect carb-pairing for your Christmas menu, then this potato and watercress salad recipe is the one.
For more information on seasonal vegetables, have a look at this amazing Seasonal Calendar of Vegetables and Fruits from Hong Kong made by Slow Food HK. You can also find a great repertoire of seasonal highlights in Hong Kong from Kadoorie Farm and Botanic Garden.
