Allotments 4 All

Produce => Edible Plants => Topic started by: Tin Shed on February 14, 2008, 22:53:53

Title: Agretti
Post by: Tin Shed on February 14, 2008, 22:53:53
Jamie Oliver used this on his programme this evening - it looked interesting - has anyone grown it?
Title: Re: Agretti
Post by: hazelize_uk on February 14, 2008, 23:01:22
I was just looking it up too.  The seeds are quite pricey well the ones i have found so far are and cannot be stored at all making them a bit tricky to source it says?  Did it sound like it was a perenial though?
Title: Re: Agretti
Post by: calendula on February 16, 2008, 09:38:08
grew it last year, varies in flavour a lot from mild to quite tangy - I started it early in the greenhouse is large bowls as i wasn't sure how well it would do outside but tried it later outside straight in the g round and it was fine - there is a japanese version but it is much the s ame, also comes under the name salsola i think

stir fry, salads = very good and something different
Title: Re: Agretti
Post by: markfield rover on February 16, 2008, 12:19:15
Is it the same as Erba Stella ? aka Bucks horn ,looks the same 
Seeds of Italy £1.59 -
Title: Re: Agretti
Post by: caroline7758 on February 16, 2008, 12:31:53
I thought Jamie referred to it as "monk's beard" ?
Title: Re: Agretti
Post by: calendula on February 16, 2008, 12:36:57
it does have lots of names - took me ages to find it in the new Seeds of Italy catalogue but they also call it Roscano or Barba di Frate - the Italians use it a lot
Title: Re: Agretti
Post by: sawfish on February 16, 2008, 12:39:35
Well it looks a lot like Liscari Sativa (Salsola Soda) to me which I grew last year. I hope its different because Liscari Sativa tasted like grass and I hated it.
Title: Re: Agretti
Post by: calendula on February 16, 2008, 12:41:20
the same  ::)
Title: Re: Agretti
Post by: Tin Shed on February 16, 2008, 15:13:39
Well. I can't decide whether to try it or not. If it really tastes like grass Ihave plenty of that and won't need to grow any!!!!
Wish I could taste some though - it must be due to become a fashionable ingredient in the gourmet restaurants soon.
Title: Re: Agretti
Post by: saddad on February 16, 2008, 15:15:29
Would that be Buck's Horn Plantain Markfield?... I'd like to try a bit of that..
:)
Title: Re: Agretti
Post by: sawfish on February 16, 2008, 15:28:49
Well dont listen to me cause I think Salsify and Scorzonera are bland too and they're also fashionable veg.
Title: Re: Agretti
Post by: markfield rover on February 16, 2008, 19:19:19
Saddad, the SoI do say Erba Stella aka Bucks Horn, and it does look very similar, I ordered some so if you fancy a pinch
p.m moi. To my very untrained eye the agretti looks more 'broome' like.
Title: Re: Agretti
Post by: Tin Shed on February 16, 2008, 19:57:09
Have been looking through catalogues for seeds -

Seeds of Italy - Agretti/Roscana/Barba di Frate/Salsola Soda £4.99  100 g
The Real Seed Catalogue - Liscari sativa £1.45  5g
Plants of Distinction - Salsola Okahijiki  £1.55  150 seeds This is described as reminiscent of samphire.

The last one sounds more interesting especially as Sawfish reckons that salsola soda tastes like grass!
Title: Re: Agretti
Post by: calendula on February 16, 2008, 19:59:30
methinks they are all the same (ish), the seeds vary ever so slightly - you can but try  :D