Has anyone of you tasted Samphire before?

[MickyMacgraw]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samphire

I have just seen it mentioned on the Daily cooks Challenge and this is the second time I've ever heard of it, apparently it has a really unique flavour and is often served with fish and chips? I've never heard of this, maybe It's a coastal thing? What is it like and can you get it "inland"?

[237SJ]

Yes, it`s really nice. It was a bit salty when I had it but I don`t know if salt is added or whether it`s naturally salty. It was cooked, and butter added.

[DTCwordfan]

yes goes well with fish and is a seaside 'plant' and there are several varieties. Its quite a unique taste akin to a salty asparagus but nice and succulent and with a crunch if not overcooked (steaming three to four mins and then 'toss' in a little olive oil, butter and serve with lemon wedges and a grind of fresh black pepper.... Wasitrose, I guess, may sell it

[Sqad]

Micky.....grows in the sand dunes and I would expect that one could by it anywhere in the UK. Looks like thin weedy bits of asparagus.

Fish, chips samphire.........lovely.....not wonderful.....but lovely.

[NazNomad]

Marsh samphire is 'most' edible. Rock samphire stinks ... it's coastal and naturally salty and best around July/August.

[crisper]

Hiya MickeyMacgraw.... you can get it inland... lol.. we got it from asda..if you eat it raw... its very very salty, if you cook it..you only need to cook it very lightly...I put mine in the microwave in a bit of water for a few mins... we thought it was mildly like green beans..runner beans very nice.. delicate and nice to have something different!

[DTCwordfan]

you can get it anywhere from Corwall down here to northern Scotland such as in the Moray Firth area - there are a number of varieties - it looks like a little bit like a marine cactus without the spines - and varieties are members of the salicornia family

[LoftyLottie]

Very popular where I live (North Norfolk) as it grows in abundance on the mud flats (not in the sand dunes Sqad). Its nice steamed and eaten with salt and vinegar, but I haven't seen it eaten with fish and chips around here.

[DTCwordfan]

yes Marsh is far better than Rock

[MickyMacgraw]

Thanks for all of your answers, Samphire sounds like it could be good diped in batter and lightly fried? Any opinions? Crisper what was the rough weight and price of it?

[crisper]

Hiya Mickey... hmm.....I think maybe a 50gram pack...same sort of size you'd get sugar snap pea's baby sweetcorn.. etc in... and about a pound..ish!..It is nice you should try it!

[NazNomad]

Note: it doesn't keep too well (hardly at all, really). So check the use-by.

[MickyMacgraw]

I'll keep an eye out for it and the date, thanks all.

[Prudie]

I've only had it after picking wild on holiday in Wales (Aberdovey) and it was delicious tossed in lots of butter - similar to asparagus. I assume it was the rock variety and I've never seen it in shops but I'm not really into food shopping!

[jackthehat]

Where did Micky go..............? .................:o)

[Prudie]

oh dear - is samphire a banned substance these days?

[society]

I've never seen or heard of this until now. I'll be looking out for it.
Thanks for posting Micky. I've learn something new.

[rowanwitch]

be careful if you pick it in the wild that there are no drainage pipes discharging nearby and really wash it well.... and remember to pick it without lifting the roots