At Bristol Farms, my up-scale supermarket, I saw a veggie that I hadn’t noticed before: sunflower chokes. This brand:

https://www.melissas.com/Sunflower-Chokes-p/56.htm

“Tastes like an artichoke, eats like a potato“, it says on the package. I didn’t buy any today (really have to watch my calories), but they’re certainly on my list of things to try.

Another link:

https://www.google.com/amp/s/a...n/what-are-sunchokes

Is that the same as what I know as a "Jerusalem Artichoke"? Sure looks the same, and the plants are indeed similar to a sunflower. Used to have a patch of them.

EDIT: Yup. Googled (actually "Binged") it. Same thing, different name.

Like them raw, sliced thin and added to a traditional tossed salad. Also pretty good by themselves.

Somewhat of a non sequitur, but my llama LOVED those things. He'd put up with ANYTHING for a handful of them.

A lumpy, brown-skinned vegetable, the sunflower choke resembles ginger root but is actually a variety of sunflower root. Sometimes referred to as a Jerusalem artichoke, it is not an artichoke!

Contrary to what the name implies, the Jerusalem Artichoke is not from Jerusalem but instead received its name from the Italian word for sunflower, girasole. The white flesh of the Sunflower Choke is nutty, crunchy, crisp and sweet. Use Sunflower Chokes raw in salads or cooked by boiling and steaming and serving as a side dish. Melissa’s packs these tubers in 12/1 lb. trays with a bright Melissa’s label.

This vegetable is similar to a potato but the carbohydrate present is inulin rather than starch which is an excellent source of fructose for diabetics.

Interesting, never heard of it. If I ever saw that at a grocery or market, I probably assumed it was ginger. Gotta try this stuff now.

Blanch them then FRY them!!!

They were considered a horrible invasive weed where I'm from.

^^^^^^
Well, the iguanas in south Florida were considered a horrible invasive species, but they’re edible too.

quote:

Originally posted by reflex/deflex 64:
They were considered a horrible invasive weed where I'm from.

You'll notice I said "had"...

For that very reason. They were taking over the whole yard. Mowed 'em down and dug up roots for like 3 years before I got them all.

/Crosses sunchokes off list of stuff to try planting in the vegetable garden....

More properly known as fartichokes...

Damn hipster millenials!!

Hey, let's dig up a bunch of weeds, cut the roots off and throw them in a bag and charge $30...the millennials will fall over themselves to give us their money!!

(Channeling my inner curmudgeon)

quote:

Jerusalem Artichoke

Like raw onions, raw garlic, dandelion greens, jicama, leeks, etc., they're prebiotics - which feed your gut microbiome.