What's hitting its peak in December? Romanesco

 

What's hitting its peak in December? Romanesco.

This architectural beauty tastes like cauliflower and benefits from the same preparations. Cook it briefly to emphasize the grassy, vegetal aspects of its flavor; cook it longer and a subtle, earthy sweetness emerges. Click here for more, including Times Food editor Russ Parsons' guide to picking the season's freshest produce, including how to select it, store it and prepare it:

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Photo credit: Los Angeles Times