13

What is this veggie I bought at the Asian market? It was called a leek sprout.

Enter image description here

Improve this question
1
  • 3
    Leek sprout to me sounds like it's a baby leek.
    – GdD
    Mar 31, 2022 at 7:53

1 Answer 1

Reset to default
24

Yellow Chinese chives. These are the same as Chinese garlic chives, but they've been "bleached" by covering them; this results in a milder, sweeter flavor.

They're generally minced and put into dishes as a finishing step.

Improve this answer
4
  • Given it came rom asian market, I assume you are right. But it looks very much like Bulgarian garlic chives. We call it green garlic. I didn't know about bleaching.
    – akostadinov
    Mar 31, 2022 at 17:21
  • 7
    @akostadinov "Bleaching" isn't quite the right word - plants left in the dark will not develop as much chlorophyll, so it's more that they don't turn green to begin with and not that the green has been "bleached" out after having previously been green. I don't think you find these sun-deprived yellow chives in traditional European or Balkan cuisine - usually just normal green ones.
    – J...
    Mar 31, 2022 at 19:47
  • 3
    I think "blanching" is the typical term, even though it's easy to confuse with the act of cooking. See Cauliflower Blanching.
    – Ian Campbell
    Mar 31, 2022 at 21:59
  • 2
    The botanical name is 'Etiolation' en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Etiolation - it's the same process done with white asparagus and forced rhubarb. Apparently if you go into a dark 'forcing' shed you can actually hear the asparagus growing!
    – Beejamin
    Apr 1, 2022 at 1:02

You must log in to answer this question.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged .