Sunchokes
Sunchokes are also known as Jerusalem artichokes. As a member of the Sunflower family, they were one of the few native tubers of North America; Native Americans enjoyed eating sunchokes for centuries before the colonialists settled. Superstitions about the starchy ginger-shaped tuber kept Europeans from cultivating them until the threats were disproved.
Sunchokes are less known today, but appear on menus around the Bay Area throughout the Fall and Winter. Their taste falls somewhere between an artichoke heart and a sunflower seed, with a crisp texture and nutty flavor. Chop them into salads, dips, salsa, chutney, or light marinades. Cook them with grilled poultry or fish, or soups, or sauces. When you consider using jicama, water chestnuts, or almonds, try substituting this tuber.
Diabetics in particular will benefit from eating sunchokes because the insulin they contain breaks down into fructose instead of glucose during digestion, making them an excellent alternative to starchy foods such as potatoes.
Farmers market tip: Choose chokes that are smooth, not dry or wrinkled.
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Recipes with Sunchokes
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Jerusalem Artichokes, Winter Roots, Smoked SaltNigel Slater, Greenfeast: Autumn, Winter |
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Sunchoke RavioliMark Dommen, One Market |
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Sunchoke Soup with Coffee Sauce and Goat CheeseSachin Chopra, All Spice |
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Cream of Sunchoke Soup with Melted Shallots, Chanterelles, and Brown ButterLeif Hedendal |
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Articles about Sunchokes
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January 07, 2021Get Rooted: A Farmers Market Guide to Root VegetablesA walk through the Ferry Plaza Farmers Market the winter dispels any belief that “there are no fresh vegetables during the winter.” |
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