Hearts of palm

Bactris gasipaes · Vegetable

40 pairings

Hearts of palm are the tender, ivory-white inner core of certain palm trees, harvested from the growing bud and innermost stem. Mild and faintly sweet with a delicate, artichoke-like flavour and a crisp-yet-yielding texture, they are usually sold canned or jarred and eaten in salads, dips and as a vegetable.

Picking a good onedrag

Sealed and sound, spears ivory and firmDomed or sour, spears grey and collapsing

Sound stock, in dateAway from the tropics the tin is the whole commodity, and fresh heart is a different article rather than a fresher one. Slice it into rings, or sear it.Everyday buy

The can or jarA dent in the body wall, ends and seams still flat

The spearsCream to pale straw, a few cut ends frayed

In the handFirm, bending a little before it gives

Smell on openingMild and neutral, mostly the brine itself

What to look for, from sealed and sound, spears ivory and firm to domed or sour, spears grey and collapsing.

Preparing