Sunday 29 January 2017

Jerusalem Artichokes.



There's a small field quite near us that is 100% overgrown with Artichokes. I hadn't grown any myself for several years, so last Winter I pulled at one of the dead stems and lifted out a few tubers for planting at Haddock's. Above is part of the result.

They're a rather old fashioned vegetable. They're very difficult to peel, they give you awful wind, but they are delicious.

We always used to make soup with them (whizzed-up Artichokes, Celery, and Cream), but I also like them roasted, or boiled then fried. Either way they have a wonderful flavour.

They're regarded mostly as Pig fodder over here, but they are a vegetable not to be ignored.

The last time I grew them, I bought some beautiful large round smooth-skinned tubers from an Asian shop in Brighton. Thinking that they were a new variety I happily sowed a whole row. When I harvested them, they had annoyingly reverted to the usual knobbly type we all know and love. 

Great flavour, but you just have to accept that they're bug*ers to peel; and to keep your windows open!



29 comments:

  1. When I was growing up white turnip was considered cattle fodder. Strange what delights we miss out on.

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    1. I remember a neighbour giving me a huge pinkish Swede, that they grew for the Pigs, and saying that it was very good in soups. He was right of course!

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  2. If it's what we call topinambur, they are delicious! They are those beautiful tall stemmed yellow flowers we see in the fields in autumn - when they are in blossom, that says summer is over.
    Greetings Maria x

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    1. They're called the same here in France. The flowers are small but nice. I've just planted a few more, so as to always have a few around.

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  3. Jerusalem artichokes? Sort of like a potato? If they are, I haven't see those, or tasted them since my childhood. My grandmother grew them. Here we have the globe artichoke only.

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    1. They grow underground like a Potato, but have a much nuttier flavour. They probably belong more to the era of your grandmother than today. I grow Globe Artichokes too, but Lady Magnon doesn't like them, so they are just for me!

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  4. We like globe and Jerusalem ..... I was going to mention the after effects but you beat me to it !!!! Not that it happens to me of course ..... I'm like the Queen !!!!! XXXX

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  5. I have never had artichokes in my life. The only bad peeling experiences I have had have been with onions. Hope they taste better than they smell :-)

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    1. I'm surprised they're not grown in India, they are so easy to grow, and produce a very healthy return per tuber planted. Taste good too.

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    2. If you use onions straight from the fridge they don't make you cry!

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    1. They usually have a purple tinge here, but I've seen them all white, and with some green. I think they all taste the same.

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  7. We have the brown ones here, never saw them in purple.

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  8. My parents always call them Jerusalem fartichokes....so definitely windows open!
    Arilx

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  9. Paul won't grow them, he says they would take up too much room. Bah!

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    1. I stick mine in any old place.... they grow anywhere.

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  10. Far too much bother peelibg for me I regret to say

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  11. Once, that's all.... grew them, was impressed by the pretty flowers and the crop of tubers, but no....never again. The wind was horrendous and buckled us over for days!

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    1. I understand your reticence. They can be powerful.

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  12. I have never tried one, but now I will look for them at the market and try some. We also call them Sunchoke.

    cheers, parsnip

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    1. I've not heard that name; it sounds like a cross between sunflower and artichoke.

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  13. They go very well in a venison stew, you could rid haddocks of a few large pests and eat well at the same time.

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    1. If I could afford Venison stew, I'd certainly pop a few in. The local hunters are even reticent to give me a leg or two.

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  14. They are nice fried as chips. They are apparently low carb. I had them in a risotto with fennel seeds in Italy once. It was lovely. The fennel seeds take the tooting part away!

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  15. I've seen those veg at the farmers market, but never really considered buying any to bring home. Now I know so much more about all their qualities, I might still leave them at the market. This post and the comments were fun to read. Thanks to all involved.

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