Today we proudly talk about a Slow Food Presidium of Liguria: the Albenga Violet Asparagus. Do you know it? Find out in our news!
Dear friends of Pesto Fresco, in this week’s news we talk about a much-appreciated Slow Food Presidium of Liguria that is produced right near us, a few kilometers from Loano: the VioletAsparagus of Albenga.
The Violet Asparagus is one of“The Four of Albenga,” which also includes the Cuore di Bue Tomato, Spinous Artichoke and Trombetta Zucchini.
Albenga Violet Asparagus: the characteristics
Because of its deep purple color that gradually fades downward toward the base and its medium to red shoots, Albenga Violet asparagus is a unique variety.
Think that its particular color does not depend on cultivation technique, but is related to its genetic makeup.
Moreover, its purity is guaranteed by a scientific reason: possessing 40 chromosomes instead of 20 like all other asparagus, VioletAsparagus cannot cross with other varieties (the offspring would be sterile) and therefore cannot bastardize.
Agronomists from different nations, on different Continents, have tried to grow it, but with very little success.
Albenga and its Plain, on the other hand, have the perfect conditions for its cultivation, thanks to the deep sandy and silty layer and microclimate. Despite this, this special and prized vegetable, which was once cultivated on more than 300 hectares, is now poorly worked, unfortunately.
Albenga Violet Asparagus Harvest Period.
Violet Asparagus has a harvest period from mid-March to mid-June.
To avoid overlap, commercially, with other asparagus varieties, both Italian produced and imported, farmers have always devised stratagems to anticipate the harvest. For example, they used to heat the soil with cotton waste (waste from cotton mills) soaked in water. Today, however, there are more modern methods, such as installing hot water pipes in the ground.
How to cook Albenga’s Violet Asparagus
In western Liguria, some restaurants include it as a “treat” on the menu. In the Albenga area you also happen to find a very fine pizza that adds Albenga Violet Asparagus in the filling.
Since it is a vegetable with particularly delicate taste characteristics, the most suitable preparations for this soft, buttery and not at all fibrous asparagus are those that enhance its fineness.
It accompanies white meats and fish well with light cooking, but it is sensational lightly boiled and dipped in Taggiasche EVO oil.
These are the last days when you can still taste it, so … don’t miss the opportunity to enjoy it in all its goodness!
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Source : www.fondazioneslowfood.com