Mumbai chef Thomas Zacharias gives expert tips on picking winter veggies

Winter is also the season for fresh greens and carrots. Pics/Poonam Bathija & Thomas Zacharias

Come winter and the markets are filled with beautiful, fresh produce. The sweet carrots found in this season brighten up your gajar ka halwa, and fresh mustard leaves make for a delicious sarson ka saag.

Chef Thomas Zacharias holds a bundle of green garlic, yet another ingredient that makes its way into the Gujarati winter special, undhiyu

We accompanied chef Thomas Zacharias, executive chef at The Bombay Canteen, to the Grant Road market, situated just outside the west exit of the railway station, to help us identify ingredients that are best this time of year. Here are some of them, with insights from Zacharias on how they are used by the various communities of India.

Zacharias tells the reporter that the season for fresh water chestnuts is just ending. He adds that from now on, only the boiled variety (front) will be available

You can also cook these at home a tad differently. For instance, in his Lower Parel restaurant kitchen, Zacharias uses the Gujarati delicacy ponkh in an innovative Barley and Jowar Salad, while fresh toor finds its way into the Fresh Toor Samosa Chaat. Green tomatoes can be grilled or roasted on a flame and turned into a chutney, and winter melon - used to make petha - can also be used in a warm soup. This is also the season during which you will find fresh turmeric in the markets, which can be used to flavour curries, or even cocktails. If you haven't cooked with any of these winter ingredients before, the primer above is to help you get started.

Carrots