Salty sea vegetables from Portugal
In the Ria Formosa Natural Park in Algarve, Portugal, our producers grow the most amazing sea vegetables. These vegetables mainly grow on land, but are adapted to living in the sea or nearby.
These vegetables are the result of a choice from the best species from National Park Ria Formosa. By applying the correct production techniques, they can obtain extremely fresh and succulent products with surprising flavors and textures. The greens are produced without causing negative impacts on the environment and by assuring food safety.
Rossio
Rossio, or ice plant, receives his name due to the vesicles shapes as small bubbles covering it.
Taste: Crispy, juicy and salty with a beautiful acidic.
Preparation: Keep raw. Add yo your dishes at the very last moment.
Combine with: Beautiful crispy, refreshing and very tasty with cold savory dishes.
Inula
This new species, with its very own taste, reminiscent of sea fennel.
Taste: Beautiful herbal flavors and with a taste reminiscent of pink pepper corns.
Preparation: Keep raw. Add to your dishes at the very last moment.
Combine with: Exciting combination in salads and with starters.
Sea blite (valverde)
Valverde da praia is a bush-like plant with fleshy and succulent leaves, with a semi-circular shape.
Taste: Juicy and salty flavor. Quite natural.
Preparation: Use raw or shortly stewed.
Combine with: Brilliant seasoning for eggs, fish or shellfish.
Premium samphire
Also known as sea asparagus or salicornia. A plant with fleshy stems and no woody ends.
Taste: A fruity taste. The structure is reminiscent of samphire.
Preparation: Process raw, shortly stewed or deep-fried in tempura batter. A surprising salt substitute when dried and processed into powder.
Combine with: Many combinations possible. Can really boost the flavors in your dish.
Primal samphire
Sarcocornia is a small, highly branched shrub that looks like samphire. It has a grey-green color.
Taste: A strong taste with a solid structure. Slightly bitter an with a firm bite.
Preparation: Keep raw, shortly stewed or blanched.
Combine with: its slightly bitter flavor makes it a great ingredient to prepare different sauces for meat or fish dishes.
Sea fingers
Taste: A crispy texture, a natural salty taste and with a slightly bitter touch.
Preparation: Blanch, stew or cook. A very decorative ingredient but also very tasty.
Combine with: Mostly used to emphasize the taste of several dishes. Combines well with meat, fish and seafood but also in warm salads. An interesting combination with mushrooms.
Delicate salty ice plant
Taste: Salty and surprisingly fresh.
Preparation: Keep raw to let this delicate product shine.
Combine with: Delicious in many dishes. Keep them as pure as possible.
Salty ice plant
Taste: Salty taste and very juicy. With beautiful ‘pearls’ on the leaves.
Preparation: Keep raw. Use whole or cut.
Combine with: Lots of combinations possible. Can really give a boost to your dish.
Sea rocket
Taste: Firm taste. Spicy, bitter and with a slightly medicinal taste.
Preparation: Keep raw.
Combine with: Use the right amount to make sure the strong taste isn’t overpowering.