5 great ingredients loved by chefs that you can grow at home

At She Grows Veg it’s important to us that our heirloom seeds produce vegetables that are not only stunning to look at, but that taste absolutely delicious, too. So, we are delighted to share with you our Cook’s Selection, a curated range of heirloom seeds, handpicked for their superior flavour, adored by chefs and coveted by anyone with a passion for exceptional food. We think these are five of the best chef ingredients that you can cultivate in your own garden. We’d love to know what you think!

Chicory Rose of Venice

Chicory Rose of Venice

This chicory is an absolute showstopper. It is one of the most beautiful vegetables we have ever seen (and we have seen more than you may believe!), resembling a giant pink rose. Alongside its stunning good looks, it has the additional benefit of tasting phenomenal. We think it makes a particularly unique addition to salads; the glorious pink of the chicory looks stunning nestled amongst green salad leaves. 

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Aubergine Melanzana Prosperosa

Aubergine Melanzana Prosperosa

To me, even standard supermarket aubergines ooze glamour with their glossy deep skins, but this heirloom variety from Sicily is a mark above the rest. It boasts a dramatic dark near black colour that goes all the way up the stem, and a generous size, along with a low seed content and no bitter aftertaste from its white flesh. The perfect aubergine, you might say. This variety is highly coveted by chefs for all these reasons, and rightly so. Why not add this to your crop?

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Storage Tomato Hanging Prince

Storage Tomato Hanging Prince

It’s not all about looks and taste, here at She Grows Veg HQ – we are here for the practical aspects of gardening, too. That being said, the plum-shaped fruits from this particular tomato plant will not disappoint; chefs love them for their versatility, using them in sauces, soups and fresh off the vine. But the real USP of the Hanging Prince is its longevity. You can harvest the entire truss, store it in a cool, dark place and enjoy the fruits for months without them perishing. Left long enough they will gradually dry out leaving you with bunches of dried tomatoes much like the sun dried pizza staple. Fresh, heirloom tomatoes picked off the vine as we head into the winter, now that is something special.

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Cauliflower Sicilian Violet

Cauliflower Sicilian Violet

Sometimes nature presents something so inconceivable it makes you wonder if your eyes are playing tricks on you. This stunning heirloom cauliflower is just that. It really is the most vibrant shade of purple (NB its heads turn green on cooking) and its fabulous colour astounds me every time I see it growing in my vegetable patch. You have to see it to believe it. But it’s not just a feast for the eyes – chefs love it for its nutty flavour, and we love it for its antioxidants and the fact it’s more insect resistant.

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Celery Utah

Celery Utah (stringless)

Ah, the humble celery; a chef’s ingredient of choice if ever there was one. Celery is such a versatile addition to any kitchen garden, adding depth of flavour to broths, soups and stews. And this variety is even more brilliant as it’s stringless, which is a huge plus point when it’s eaten raw. Add it to your salads or just pick and crunch it as is.

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Why the Cook’s Selection?

At She Grows Veg we want every heirloom seed we sell to be part of a distinctive culinary experience. With this array of exceptional vegetables, you can bring this gourmet experience to your own table. Explore the Cook’s Selection here and embark on your culinary adventure!