Two days a month I get a special delivery… my CSA box. What’s a CSA box? Community Supported Agriculture boxes are technically boxes of organic produce sent direct from the farm to your house, but I prefer to think of it as a healthy surprise delivered right to my doorstep. Fresh, in season, just picked, organic fruits and vegetables ripe and ready to eat. The fun part is that I never know what I’m going to get and this week’s box did not disappoint!

Here are all the goodies that I unpacked:

Don’t you just love all those vibrant colors?! Radishes, carrots, oranges, sweet smelling strawberries, kale and butter lettuce, apples…even shallots and a Eureka lemon. I am excited to start cooking and eating everything… with one exception. Did you see the unusual lime-green, twirly, spikey vegetable thing in the back, tucked in between the radish tops and lettuce?

Looks like this:

It’s called a Romanesco Cauliflower. (Luckily my box comes with a packing list and a newsletter explaining unusual additions). I have never been served nor cooked nor eaten this vegetable before and my curiosity is peaked. What would this odd looking vegetable offer in the nutrition department? And more importantly, how would it taste?

Here’s what the Farm’s newsletter shared about Romanesco Cauliflower, “It has a high level of carotenoids, iron, vitamin C and folate. The spiraled florets, when broken off, contain a replica of itself, which contains a replica of itself, and so on, like a hall of mirrors. It has the same texture as white cauliflower, but the flavor has a slightly nutty flavor, a bit closer to the taste of broccoli.” Hmmm, sounds pretty good to me, and I’m always up for trying something new (just like the delicata squash a few months ago).

Two recipes were also included as to how to prepare it (1) simply roasted with extra virgin olive oil, Pecorino Romano cheese, salt, pepper and red pepper flakes (optional) or (2) sautéed with shallots, evoo and white wine then tossed with hot pasta, shredded mozzarella, fresh basil and olive oil, a little salt and pepper, too. Both sound delicious!

I guess I know what I’ll be making for dinner tonight! How about you? If you have cooked with this vegetable before, I’d love to hear your favorite way to prepare it. Here’s to trying something new (and strange looking)!

*If you live in the southern California area and are interested in getting a “Farm Fresh to You” box, you can get $10 off your first box. Simply go online to www.farmfreshtoyou.com and enter promo code 6164. Share my first and last name, Carla Matthews, too, and I will get a one-time discount as well. You can have a box delivered at different intervals and in several sizes… check it out and see all the options. It’s a great way to have “eat clean and live green” brought right to you.