Jerusalem artichokes

thriftlady_2

The soup is called Palestine Soup

Scrub them, peel as well as you can, but leave any particularly nobbly bits. They make a nice gratin with cheese and go especially well with bacon. I love them they do give you wind though :rolleyes:

martindow

Quite nice sliced and roasted. I've never peeled them - it would take for ever - just a cursory scrub.

They are the easiest things to grow. Just plant them a few inches deep and next year they'll come up fine. In the autumn you can dig them out. They grow about 6 feet tall (they are related to sunflowers) so are quite good for screening things. But a few words of caution; once they are there you will find them difficult to get rid of. When you harvest the tubers you are bound to leave a few behind to grow up the next year.

thriftlady_2

I agree with martin, they are very easy to grow. You don't have to buy special 'garden centre' tubers, just stick one of the ones you've got in the ground.

They are also very low in calories, but taste their best with things like butter, cream and bacon fat

wendym

"They store their carbohydrates in a form of inulin, a starch that is not utilized by the body for energy, as opposed to sugar. They are recommended as a potato substitute for diabetics since they are filling but not absorbed by the body, and because they also show indications of assisting in blood sugar control. Jerusalem artichoke flour is also recommended for those who are allergic to wheat and other grains."

They are also absolutely delicious, with a smoky flavour, but my digestive system just doesn't tolerate them. I get fierce stomach cramps; so does one daughter but not the other, who just gets the anti-social effects.

Don't let this stop you trying them, but I'd try a small helping first!

nickyhutch

In a beef stew - yummmmmmm

dorsetmiss_2

Made soup...and it was delish!!!! Just scrubbed and cut away any manky-loooking bits. Unusual earthy/smoky/mushroomy/truffly sort of flavour. As mentioned....interesting after-effects though of a rather 'explosive' nature :rotfl:

Many thanks for all the info and suggestions :T

V.Lucky

Anyone know if I can roast or mash these?

Got three in my organic box on Friday, quite big ones, and have inlaws for dinner today.

Thanks

thriftlady_2

You can do both. My mum used to roast them round the joint - yum.

V.Lucky

Thanks for that.

I went to peel them for dinner, but they smelt like parsnips. AS they were in my organic box, I now assume they are parnsips without the tails (if you see what I mean), so I didn't do them.

Now, thinking about it, I am not sure at all. The texture was not quite parnsips.

Any help/suggestions greatly appreciated.

undercoat11

Hi

I have some home grown artichokes and I haven't a clue how to cook them.

Anyone know? Do I have to peel them?

Thanks in advance!