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:
When I was growing up white turnip was considered cattle fodder. Strange what delights we miss out on.
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
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!
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.
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.
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!
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
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 :-)
It was the dog! Honest!
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.
If you use onions straight from the fridge they don't make you cry!
Boo Hoo.
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.
We have the brown ones here, never saw them in purple.
My parents always call them Jerusalem fartichokes....so definitely windows open!
Arilx
That's what we call them too!
Paul won't grow them, he says they would take up too much room. Bah!
Far too much bother peelibg for me I regret to say
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!
I stick mine in any old place.... they grow anywhere.
I agree; they're a pain!
I understand your reticence. They can be powerful.
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
They go very well in a venison stew, you could rid haddocks of a few large pests and eat well at the same time.
I've not heard that name; it sounds like a cross between sunflower and artichoke.
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.
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!
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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