Freaky Fruit: Jerusalem Artichokes
December 31, 2008 at 3:51 am 1 comment
Curious Tubers
Jerusalem artichokes at Union Square Farmers Market
They’re called Jerusalem artichokes, but they neither come from Jerusalem nor look at all like artichokes. That’s just one of the many curiosities of these ginger-root look-alikes, also known as sunchokes and sunroot. Jerusalem artichokes are the root of a species of sunflower native to the eastern United States. One more interesting fact about this vegetable — it doesn’t have starch, like potatoes and most other “tubers,” making it ideal for diabetics.
Jerusalem artichokes were described at the farmers market as having a “tender, sweet nutty flavor” when eaten raw. They can be baked, roasted, sautéed or boiled.
• Price: $2/pound
• Nutritional tidbits: High in potassium and iron
• Color/shape/texture: light brown, ridged “tubers” that sometimes have nodules reminiscent of ginger root
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Entry filed under: Farmers Market, Freaky Fruit. Tags: Freaky Fruit, jerusalem artichokes, sunchokes, sunroot.
1.
m.thew | January 4, 2009 at 9:36 pm
Alas, some of us don’t respond well to the sunchoke’s inulin, the kind of sugar these tubers have.