Cardoon

This shiny green celery like vegetable has a blend of flavors of artichoke, salsify and celery, only slightly more bitter. The head and large leaves are removed, the stalks are soaked in salt water to remove strong after taste and marketed. It is sautéed, deep fried, baked, or steamed for salads, as a side dish, or in main dishes. Cardoon is also known as edible thistle, cardone, cardi, etc.

Tasting like a cross between artichoke, celery and salsify, this delicious vegetable is very popular in France, Italy and Spain.