fireweed, 1 year ago

I don’t know your life, but are you sure you haven’t just had poorly prepared brassicas? Have you tried roasted Brussels sprouts? Do you hate sauerkraut and coleslaw? Buffalo wing cauliflower? What about mustard (the condiment, the spice, and/or the fresh leaf)?

There are lots of ways I hate brassicas: kale chips (gag), broccoli of any kind (not even in Chinese takeout), and let’s not forget plain, steamed brassicas (basically medieval dungeon food). But the brassica family is huge and there are so many ways to prepare them. Even kale by itself has dozens of varieties, and they do in fact have different tastes and textures. In fact, the exact same plant will taste completely different depending on time of year: mustard leaves harvested in summer heat are almost unbearably spicy, but nearly lettuce-bland in winter. Kale harvested in summer is way more bitter and earthy than in winter when it’s juicy and sweet (in response to freezing temps the plant produces sugars like an antifreeze for the leaves).

Saying you hate all brassicas is like saying you hate all nightshades: you may be correct, but it’s such a huge family it’s hard to imagine there’s not something in there you enjoy.