An Italian vegetable delight – grown in Britain

Generations of Italians have appreciated cavolo nero as a versatile yet tasty vegetable. A member of the brassica family along with kale, cavolo nero is a popular ingredient in many classic Italian meals from soups to vegetable dishes. But British grown cavolo nero is now available in the UK!

Usually grown in the sunny south of Italy, cavolo nero is now being grown in Lincolnshire, renowned for its fertile, loamy soil and where so many of our vegetables come from.

Cavolo nero has a marvellous rich and intense flavour, it can be used as an ingredient in a wide variety of dishes from soups to salads, or is delicious as an accompaniment. Creamy Shredded Cavolo Nero with Mustard for example, is great served alongside Roast chicken or Cumberland sausages and takes just minutes to cook.

Mediterranean Soup with Cavolo Nero is in the style of the Italian soup, Ribbolita, and is great for those cold winter days, with its comforting warmth and rich texture.

Cavolo nero is also ideal with fish, as it compliments its lighter more delicate taste. Roasted Cod on Cavolo Nero with olives and capers is really easy to prepare, yet tastes and looks impressive!

Although summer has gone, it doesn’t mean we have to say goodbye to salads. Warm Winter Salad with Beetroot and Goats Cheese is a great combination of flavours and colour. The dark green and intense cavolo nero, the sweet beetroot, the sharp citrus flavours from the oranges and the soft, mellow taste of the goats cheese, make this a dish to savour.

Cavolo nero has a very distinctive appearance, with its long, dark green leaves and is in season in the UK between September and January.

For further information on cavolo nero, including recipe ideas, log on to Discoverkale.co.uk.