By Heide Kennedy, Arizona Farm Bureau Communications Intern
Do you ever walk through the produce section of a grocery store, or up and down the booths at a farmers’ market and just look at some of the odd fruits and vegetables? Some of them look so weird that you wouldn’t be surprised if they came straight out of a Dr. Seuss book! Some of these different and lesser-known fruits and vegetables are gaining more attention lately because despite their odd looks, many of them are very delicious and nutritious! 
The following is a list from registered dietician Janet Helm, of some odd vegetables that are not only pretty yummy but also very good for you.
- Celeriac
Celeriac root is the ugly relative to its better-known cousin, celery. Celeriac tastes kind of like a celery-flavored potato. This sounds weird, but celeriac is good when shredded into salads, roasted, or turned into a low-carbohydrate mashed potato alternative. Celeriac is a good source of vitamins C and K, fiber, phosphorous, manganese, molybdenum, and potassium.
- Romanesco
Romanesco is an incredibly eye-catching relative of broccoli and cauliflower. It’s green in color and covered in swirly points. It tastes like a milder, sweeter, nuttier version of broccoli or cauliflower. It’s good raw, blanched, roasted, steamed, or sauteed. It’s a good source of vitamin C, folate, fiber, and polyphenols.
- Sunchokes
Sunchokes are another ugly root vegetable, and as their name implies, they have a slight artichoke taste. They are good raw, baked, roasted, steamed, braised, sauteed, fried, or mashed. The skin can be peeled or eaten, and if left on, provides a good source of fiber. Sunchokes offer vitamin B1, and iron.
- Chayote
Chayote is an odd, pear-shaped summer squash. Its taste is like a cross between a cucumber and a zucchini. It’s good used in soups, salads, or roasted. It’s less starchy than other squashes, making it lower in carbohydrates. It’s also a good source of vitamin C.
- Purslane
Purslane is actually a weed that is probably growing in your backyard right now. Most don’t realize that it is actually edible and is used in other countries both for food and medicinal benefits. It has a tart, lemony and peppery flavor similar to arugula. It’s a great addition to salads, and it offers a good source of vitamins C, A, and K, as well as magnesium.
- Maitake mushrooms
Maitake mushrooms are a cool, fan-shaped mushroom that is gaining popularity in restaurants. Often, they are served in wraps, burgers, soups, and salads. They are an amazing source of vitamin D, with a one-cup serving providing 99% of the daily value of vitamin D. They are also a good source of riboflavin, niacin, and copper.
Just because a food looks weird or is less popular doesn’t mean it doesn’t deserve a place in our kitchens. Check out some of these foods at your local grocery store or farmers market and give them a try!
For more articles about food, check out the Fill Your Plate blog!