Does your usual produce rotation–corn, carrots, potatoes, green beans, rinse, repeat—have you feeling like you’re stuck in a rut? There are actually a wide variety of additional flavorful fruits and vegetables that are at their best right now. While some of these lesser-known items might not be your Plan A…or even plan B or C…they are D-elicious! Read on for a list of our favorite often overlooked nutrient-packed winter gems:

Surprise! Unfamiliar Winter Produce

Does your usual produce rotation–corn, carrots, potatoes, green beans, rinse, repeat—have you feeling like you’re stuck in a rut? There are actually a wide variety of additional flavorful fruits and vegetables that are at their best right now. While some of these lesser-known items might not be your Plan A…or even plan B or C…they are D-elicious! Read on for a list of our favorite often overlooked nutrient-packed winter gems:

Unfamiliar Winter Produce: Sunchokes

Sunchokes 

This big, knobby root vegetable (also known as the “sunroot” and “Jerusalem artichoke,” even though sunchokes are not part of the artichoke family), is versatile, cooks quickly and requires minimal prep. You can enjoy them like any root veggie; bake ‘em, sauté ‘em or puree them in soups. With a nutty, slightly sweet flavor, sunchokes are also great eaten raw or lightly cooked and tossed in salads.  They’re a good source of iron, potassium, and thiamin, and fiber. One of their most noteworthy benefits is that sunchokes are considered a prebiotic, a nondigestible fiber that encourages the growth and activity of probiotics, beneficial microbes in the intestinal tract that promote overall good health. With all these assets, there’s good reason to let the sun(chokes) shine in!

Unfamiliar Winter Produce: Delicata Squash

Delicata Squash  

There are so many scrumptious squash selections to choose from, including butternut, acorn and spaghetti squash. One of my favorites is a less popular pick: Delicata Squash. Named for its delicate, edible skin, the vegetable features a natural sweetness, which allows it to be used in a myriad of ways, from pureeing it into a soup to making it into Squash Mac and Cheese . You can even use it in breakfast and dessert-type dishes by roasting the velvety flesh (it caramelizes beautifully in the oven with some cinnamon) and serving with a dollop of Greek yogurt and your favorite granola. This super squash is high in beta-carotene, which acts an antioxidant to help fight inflammation in your body, as well as immune-boosting vitamin C. One delightful date with delicata and trust me, you’ll be hooked.

Unfamiliar Winter Produce: Radishes

Radishes

This ruby-colored root veggie is simply…radishing! Raw radishes feature a biting, peppery flavor and satisfying crunch, making them an ideal vehicle to scoop up your favorite dip. Roasted radishes have a more earthy flavor and can be used in your favorite grain bowl or inside a winter vegetable pasta. No matter how you prepare it, the vibrant veggie provides plenty of potassium (to help manage blood pressure and minimize bloating), a considerable amount of vitamins B and C, and antioxidants that help fight inflammation. They are totally rad!

Unfamiliar Winter Produce: Shishito Peppers

Shishito peppers

Peter Piper picked a (shishito) pepper… and every once in a while felt the fiery burn! These small, bright green, somewhat wrinkly East Asian peppers are mildly spicy and even a bit sweet. The fun part (aka the Peter Piper reference, above): On occasion, you’ll come across one that’s got some serious kick and oh boy, is that fun. They work best as appetizers, side dishes, or on finger food platters. I love to blister them in a lightly oiled skillet over high heat. Try my recipe here. Shishito Peppers are a good source of antioxidants and vitamin C, both of which are key to promoting overall good health.

Unfamiliar Winter Produce: Parnsips

Parnsips

I’m always rooting for these guys. Root vegetables, like carrots and parsnips, are winter winners because they grow sweeter as temperatures drop. Roasted parsnips taste a lot like white potatoes and make for a scrumptious side on their own. Also, because they have a subtle earthy flavor, they’re a welcome addition to a slew of winter dishes, like soups, stews, and  casseroles. You can even make crispy oven-roasted Parsnip fries (out-of-this-world delish). Parsnips come packed with vitamins (C, B and E) and minerals (manganese, potassium and magnesium), which makes them a tasty way to add an alphabet of nutrients to your plate. They’re also a good source of fiber–one cup of cooked parsnips contains almost 6 grams of fiber.

Unfamiliar Winter Produce: Mandarins

Mandarins

Orange you glad I didn’t say orange? All kidding aside, citrus fruits are seasonal stars. Despite their color, mandarins and oranges are not one in the same. In addition to being a different species, mandarins (which include tangerines and clementines) are generally smaller and sweeter than oranges. They’re also a little flatter, and feature a thin, loose skin that makes them a breeze to peel. Varieties like clementines are usually seedless, while others, like tangerines, may have a small amount of seeds. If ever there were a perfect snack for little fingers and on-the-go munching, this is it. For a more decadent spin, try dipping mandarin slices in melted dark chocolate and topping with sea salt. Is your mouth watering?! Mandarins are a terrific source of vitamin C, which helps to keep skin healthy, improve oral health, and strengthen immunity.

Thanks to Victoria Rihm for her contributions to this article.

Unfamiliar Winter Produce: Persimmons

Persimmons

Persimmons are curiously underrated. If you want to give them a shot (please do!), you have a very short window in the fall and early winter. This fruit has a honey-like, cantaloupe taste, and a similar texture to an apricot. The round, bright orange pick provides 6 grams of fiber and is also brimming with vitamin A (138 mcg in one fruit), to bolster your immunity and complexion all winter long. You can bite right into the juicy flesh (the skin is edible) or peel them if you prefer. Use them to bring adventure to your fruit bowls, add them to a favorite winter salad, or try baking them into muffins. This unique yellowy-orange, deliciously sweet fruit will provide a pop of color and intrigue to your winter routine.

Unfamiliar Winter Produce: Kumquats

Kumquats

Want a giggle? Try saying “kumquat” ten times fast, lol. These gems aren’t much bigger than a grape, yet the bite-sized fruit fills your mouth with a burst of sweet-tart, citrusy flavor and packs a big nutritional punch. Unlike other citrus fruits, the peel of the kumquat is sweet and edible, while the juicy flesh is tart. Kumquats are a good source of vitamin C and fiber (6 g per 1 fruit). Kumquats are best eaten whole and unpeeled. You can also make them into marmalades to top your morning toast or bake them into sweet desserts for a brightening tang.