5 Delicious Veggies You’ve Never Heard Of—And Need to Try

— -- intro: Apples and spinach have you bored out of your gourd? Thanks to creative crossbreeding, there’s a handful of new fruits and veggies popping up at farmer’s markets and grocery stories—and they’re worth sinking your teeth into. (Cotton candy-flavored grapes, anyone?!) “Some of [these hybrids] even offer superior nutrition compared to their old school counterparts,” says Wendy Bazilian, RD, author of Superfoods RX Diet ($26, amazon.com). Break free of your broccoli-and-peas rut with these five fresh new ways to get your five a day.

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quicklist: 1category: 5 Delicious Veggies You’ve Never Heard Of—And Need to Trytitle: Kalettesurl:text:

With a purple sprout base, leafy green top, and nutty, slightly sweet taste, Kalettes are the love child of kale and Brussels sprouts.

Nutrition perks: This veggie mash-up has more protein and vitamin C than kale. And because Kalettes lack the bitter taste of Brussels sprouts and other leafy greens, Bazilian calls them “the perfect gateway veggie.” (Read: no cheese sauce necessary.)

Prep tips: Toss trimmed Kalettes with olive oil, salt, and pepper; roast at 475 degrees for 10 minutes. The leaves will crisp up like kale chips. Or try this salad from chef Aaron Woo, owner of Natural Selection, a farm-to-table vegetarian restaurant in Portland, Oregon: Combine three cups of chopped Kalettes with one cup shaved fennel bulb and ¼ cup each toasted pine nuts and pitted, chopped green olives. Drizzle with lemon vinaigrette (one part lemon juice to one part olive oil; salt and pepper to taste) and top with grated Parmesan.

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quicklist: 2category: 5 Delicious Veggies You’ve Never Heard Of—And Need to Trytitle: Plumcotsurl:text:

Also called Pluots, these plum-apricot combos come in many different varieties, and have a firmer texture thanplums.

Nutrition perks: Plumcots pack more fiber than plums and apricots. They also offer a “double whammy of vitamins A and C,” says Brooklyn-based nutritionist and chef Jackie Newgent, RD, author of 1,000 Low-Calorie Recipes ($27, amazon.com). Vitamin A plays an important role in immunity, while vitamin C protects against against cell damage.

Prep tips: The next time you make salsa, swap out tomatoes for plumcots and serve over chicken or fish. Woo likes to bake squares of phyllo dough at 375 degrees until golden brown (about 20 minutes) and top them with a smear of jam and diced pluots that have been tossed with watered-down honey or agave. He serves with a dipping sauce of sour cream, honey, and cinnamon. (Swap in low-fat Greek yogurt for a healthier base.)

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quicklist: 3category: 5 Delicious Veggies You’ve Never Heard Of—And Need to Trytitle: Cotton Candy grapesurl:text:

A multigenerational hybrid of southeastern and Mediterranean species, these grapes are bred to taste like the circus treat (minus the stickiness).

Nutrition perks: Like any table grape, this variety is plump with heart-healthy resveratrol. Research suggests that resveratrol may also slow cancer cell growth and inhibit the formation of tumors.

Prep tips: For a grown-up version of everyone’s favorite after-school snack, spread nut butter on a toasted whole wheat English muffin and top with ½ cup of thinly sliced Cotton Candy grapes. Or use them to punch up a cheese plate: Woo says sweet grapes like these pair well with blue cheese, Camembert, Asiago, and Parmesan.