The italian Vegetable known as Salsola (Barba di Frate)......

[Kim A]

We are growing this in our garden. We've eaten it raw in salads (delicious), and I'm told the Italians like it braised with garlic and oil, or boiled in salted water and served as a hot or warm side dish to meat and fish. Any other suggestions, please?

[lia*]

kim, i have never heard of this vegetable, i searched it online and still did not recognised it. wish i could help.

[Kim A]

Lia, thanks so much for trying - I, too, searched on-line, but couldn't get anything except botanical information and the barest minimum culinary directions from Wickipedia. Serves my husband right for being seduced by a weird name in the seed catalogue - the seed company weren't much help either - they just said ' Eaten by Italians in salads and stir-fries'. Luckily, I'm a pretty inventive cook - this could be my biggest challenge yet!

[Narolines]

Well, as far as I've got in my brief search, one source says it's a type of chicory, another says it's a Russian thistle, and a third says it's tumbleweed! Obviously all these plants are botanically related, but the one you're looking for is apparently known as opposite-leaved saltwort in English, and can be used much as you would use chicory or samphire (assuming you would use either of those!) So if you have any chicory or samphire recipes, you're up and running............

[Kim A]

Thanks, Narolines! I posted the question on H+G as well as F+D and everyone has come up with the same sort of answers - all enquiries lead to Wiki, I think! I did find an Italian site with a couple of recipes in Italian, and I've managed to translate them - will be trying them out shortly...................
Thanks for taking the time to look!

[Narolines]

My pleasure - hope you fiind some suitable recipes!