Updated 2023: What Produce To Use During The Winter
Discover > Texas Home Cooking > Updated 2023: What Produce To Use During The Winter
Winter is a great time to enjoy a range of flavorful and healthy produce. Squash, greens, potatoes, and root vegetables are all available Texas winter vegetables, making them easy to eat seasonally and sustainably.
Different types of squashes, such as butternut, winter crookneck, and delicata, add sweetness to dishes. Winter greens like spinach and red Russian Kale can up the nutrition factor of meals and add pizzazz. While carrots, turnips, and sweet potatoes provide options for anything from creamy soups to roasted sides. During this time of year, winter vegetables could help create hearty meals that everyone can enjoy!
Seasonal food has one of the hidden benefits of being good both for your health and the environment. Eating fruits, vegetables, nuts (how long do nuts last?), and other products in line with the time they are naturally available can help you reap some nutritional advantages. Moreover, it is also eco-friendly as sourcing food from within your region eliminates the extra air miles they have to cover. That way, you add flavor to your dish and reduce its carbon footprint simultaneously!
Cooking with the best winter vegetables not only brings out flavors and textures like no other but also lowers your dependence on imported products that may have run through numerous processes before reaching your table. Enjoying fresh seasonal and local produce is a win-win for us all!
Winter Vegetables in Texas
During the cooler winter months in Texas, you will find an abundance of locally-sourced winter vegetables such as:
Greens
Brassicas
Legumes
Root Vegetables
The best way to help and promote a small farm is to buy its products. It’s even better if you make a long term deal with a farm and come back for their produce on a regular basis.
Greens
Leafy green vegetables are an essential part of a balanced diet. Rich in vitamins, minerals, and fiber but low in calories, these vegetables are necessary for healthy living. The most significant benefits associated with leafy greens come from their high levels of antioxidants and ability to help reduce inflammation.
Eating a diet rich in leafy greens can help reduce the risk of obesity, heart disease, high blood pressure, and mental decline while promoting healthy skin, strong bones, and a healthy digestive system. In addition to being low in calories and packed with essential nutrients, they're also tasty; add them to salads or soups or sauté them as a delicious side dish.
From aromatic arugula to crisp spinach and hearty collards to sweet lettuce, the variety of winter vegetables in Texas provides a unique flavor for all types of dishes. In addition, leafy greens provide essential nutrients that can help keep you healthy throughout the year's cooler months.
Local farmers' markets offer an excellent opportunity to find fresh local produce in the winter. Even genuinely dedicated gardeners can plant certain cold-weather greens in their backyard soil. Eating healthily doesn't have to stop just because it's cold outside - with a little effort and research, you'll have plenty of options for eating green all winter long.
Brassicas
Winter in Texas is an exciting time for brassicas! Many of the most familiar vegetables on our plates are members of the Brassicaceae family, more commonly known as The Mustard Family. These family members, sometimes cruciferous vegetable, plays a significant role as one of the most nutritious and widely consumed varieties among all vegetables. This family of vegetables includes cabbages and broccoli (how long does broccoli last?), both known for their heartiness and ability to withstand cold temperatures.
There's something special about harvesting fresh homegrown brassicas when the days are colder. They may require extra effort due to the shorter days and more excellent winter weather conditions. Still, if you start your plants early in the season, you can be rewarded with a crop that will provide you with healthy food throughout the colder months.
Planting late-season varieties will give even more flexibility as far as timing goes for warmer climates near the coast and more northern parts of Texas. So whether you prefer eating them raw in salads or cooked into hearty stews and soups, enjoy this winter season's abundance of delicious and nutritious brassicas!
From cabbage and cauliflower to Kale and broccoli, Brassica oleracea subspecies offer us plenty of iron and vitamin C along with beta-carotene, vitamin K and soluble fiber—all excellent components for maintaining good health. With their robust nutrition profile, it is no wonder why they are some of the most successfully cultivated vegetables in the world.
Legumes
Winter in Texas can be unpredictable, but one thing you can always depend on is the array of legumes available to transform your meals. Whether you're using lentils (how long do lentils last?), split peas, navy beans (how long do navy beans last?), or kidney beans (how long do kidney beans last?), they provide a nutritional punch to soups and stews that are perfect for cold-weather eating.
Because they have a quick cook time and don't require soaking before use, legumes are time-saving ingredients that are easy to store in any pantry. This versatility makes them ideal for all your winter cooking needs in Texas!
Root Vegetables
Winter is an excellent time of year to enjoy root vegetables in Texas. From beets (how long do beets last?) to turnips, winter root vegetables can easily be found at farmers' markets and grocery stores throughout the state. Roasting them with spices like cumin, coriander, and turmeric can bring out their natural flavors, transforming these common roots into excellent meals.
Through photosynthesis, these root veggies convert sunlight into carbohydrates, which then serve as a source of nutrients throughout the entire plant. In addition, each vegetable develops its unique flavor profile determined by its storage organ's sweetness or bitterness. By using different combinations of root vegetables in your cooking, you can create meals that are genuinely distinct experiences.
During winter in Texas, you can look forward to flavorful root vegetables like carrots, beets, radishes, and onions that complement meals with classic crunch. When it's cold outside, there is no shortage of protein-packed produce to cook up something delicious!
Although boiling is popular when it comes to preparing root vegetables, many believe that roasting allows for more flavor by allowing the natural sugars to caramelize. In addition, a little bit of sea salt (how long does sea salt last?) or black pepper can add even more depth. So next time you're looking for an exciting dish for your dinner table this winter season, consider adding these Texas roots!
Looking for a farmers market in Texas? Read our guide to the top 6 food markets in Texas.
Greens
Spinach
Spinach is an incredibly versatile veggie that offers benefits you can't find in many other greens. Not only can it be enjoyed raw and cooked, but spinach also boasts superior nutrition. It contains more iron, calcium, and vitamins than most cultivated greens, making it one of the best sources of Vitamins A, B, and C.
One serving of spinach provides about half of your daily needs for Vitamin A and is also packed with essential minerals like magnesium, manganese, and folate!
Spinach has similar cool-season growing conditions and requirements as lettuce, so be sure to think outside the salad bowl to enjoy this power-packed nutritive vegetable.
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Brassicas
Cabbage
Cabbage is a super-food for the winter because it contains just the vitamins and minerals that are there to help you with the bad weather and the health problems that often come up with it. In addition, cabbage has all the qualities of Kale, a much more popular vegetable, and it should get the praise it deserves.
Cabbage rolls are the most popular dish because they can be both vegetarian and a dish for meat lovers depending on your dietary preferences. Those take a bit more time to make, but they are a perfect bite-size dish once they are done.
Buy farm fresh cabbage from local family farms and ranches in Texas through the TexasRealFood Promptuary.
Broccoli
Brassicas are some of the most nutrient-rich food items you could add to your diet. Broccoli, in particular, are complete powerhouse food filled with antioxidants and other anti-inflammatory compounds that can help minimize oxidative damage in our bodies and reduce the risk of developing various chronic diseases.
Eating plenty of broccoli has been proven repeatedly to be highly beneficial for maintaining optimum health.
They are versatile foods that we can include in a wide range of dishes, from soup or stir fry to salads or roasting alongside other vegetables; however you choose to prepare them, broccoli and cauliflower will always do your body good in more ways than one.
Buy farm fresh broccoli from local family farms and ranches in Texas through the TexasRealFood Promptuary..
Kale
Kale is a versatile vegetable with an extended growing season, enabling farmers to enjoy the continuation of harvest during the months. It is not only full of valuable nutrients like vitamins A, C, and iron. Still, it is also nicknamed one of the most nutrient-concentrated foods on earth.
Due to its vitamin richness, it was highly considered by Americans during WWII. Growing Kale in victory gardens ensured that people still had access to nutritious food even in difficult moments when food rationing was imposed due to war. Consequently, Kale has plenty of benefits, and making it along with other vegetables should be part of our daily diet.
Buy farm fresh kale from local family farms and ranches in Texas through the TexasRealFood Promptuary.
Legumes
Peas
During the winter season in Texas, peas are an excellent food choice as they provide great nutritional value. As part of the legume family, they contain various essential vitamins and minerals such as Vitamin A, Vitamin K, and protein.
Furthermore, known for their high antioxidant content, peas can help ward off inflammation and reinforce your immune system. Despite being low in calories (at only 59 kcals per half cup), each bite will replenish your body with multiple benefits, making them ideal for maintaining overall health.
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Root Vegetables
Beets
Beets are usually not thought of as a fascinating vegetables. However, when it comes to what they bring to your diet, they are the same as blueberries. The difference is that they are in season, and blueberries aren't. The nutrient-dense root is packed with fiber, folic acid, potassium, and magnesium.
You could make countless recipes with them, and it's best to start with something as simple as easy to make as salads. Lentil is the most common addition to beets to make them more attractive. You could also experiment with hummus.
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Turnips
Turnips are another winter produce that is considered to be boring. They are also often disliked by kids, but that can be changed by using them in fun and exciting recipes, of which they are plenty. In addition, turnips are a great source of vitamins B, C, and K. They have more of these than the fruits they are associated with.
The turnips are best for making quick snacks to tie you between the two meals. Roasted turnips can be roasted, and you can add miso butter to create a nice twist on a simple dish.
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Carrots
Carrots are the simplest vegetable on our list, and you can find them everywhere. They are also easy to store in large quantities. As with sweet potatoes, they could be roasted and added to toast and other simple dishes used as snacks. They could be used in more complicated words as well.
A simple carrot soup is one of the most common dishes made with carrots and one you should try to make often during the winter. It's a hearty dish that will keep you warm in the winter while taking only a few minutes to complete with proper preparations.
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Squash
Squash is an excellent product because it's practically made to be used as a snack since it can be used as a cooking vessel and served on its own shelf. However, there are other ways for it to be used. It's a versatile vegetable, and a skillful cook could make many different uses.
It's the perfect vegetable to cook with when you have a cold since it mitigates the effects of inflammation in the body. Depending on what you cook it with, it can be a spicy dish or something soothing like soup.
Texans are lucky to have access to the best squash. Find the Best Winter Squash to Add to Your Diet.
Conclusion
Regarding winter vegetables, Texas has a great selection of cold-weather produce. Picking more of these seasonal vegetable varieties is a great way to spice up your diet and add a mixture. Not only are winter vegetables delicious and nutritious, but they also help sustain local farming businesses. On top of that, they can be put towards many different dishes you can prepare at home or purchase from local vendors. Eating with the season has multiple benefits and will make a difference in people's diets and their communities.
