Sea asparagus experiences

[Thorn]

I'd never heard of sea asparagus until a week or so ago--it was featured on the Food Channel's show Chopped. I don't think any of the chefs really succeeded using it.

You might want to see if anyone has the videos on line http://www.foodnetwork.com/chopped/index.html

[alimey]

ah yes - that's samphire. Or at least that's what it's called in the UK (& apparently the season is now!) It really is salty stuff - even if you rinse it. I boil or steam it lightly using no salt. It's delicious as a starter w/ unsalted butter or various other things (again, nothing with salt in). I also use it as a vegetable - goes nicely with fish & chicken.

It's delicious. I am doing a seafood bbq tomorrow night for my cycling friends so I think I will ask my fishmonger for some & do it as a light starter w/ babaganoush (or however that is spelt). Our fishmonger has been on our lane for 47 years & has a proper marble slab with all the fish & seafood laid out - I like to support him as I hope he stays in business.

Twice a week we have lightly grilled kippers from him w/ cayenne pepper - delicious (go straight on the bbq for a great camp breakfast) - oily omega 3, healthy & cheap!

[papaver]

I love the stuff! It is sooooooo goooooood. But don't use salt! I just stir fry it with some olive oil, that's it. Yummmmmmmmm!

[AlwayzOnDaMove]

I'm even originally from Hawaii and I never heard about it. Sounds really interesting though. What type of store did you find it in?

[shootingstar]

I'm even originally from Hawaii and I never heard about it. Sounds really interesting though. What type of store did you find it in?

In our neck of the country, it's not easily found. Think of foodie places where there's a tendency to includes (though not exclusively) customer base with a higher income/willing to pay abit of money because it can be abit expensive.

Occasionally I see sporadically around this time (or a few wks. earlier) at our markets. I bought our batch from one of the farmers' markets at a good price or at certain ethnic grocery stores. I did see it once at Japanese grocery store. (No, I doubt it's the sort of thing at a Chinese grocery store would carry.)

Might be useful to make some phone calls to save yourself the time and ask for store owner. Not everyone knows what it is.