The Jerusalem artichoke, a winter vegetable to rediscover!

Also called "earth pear" or “sunchoke”, the Jerusalem artichoke is a winter vegetable.

Even if it looks like a ginger stalk, the Jerusalem artichoke is slightly sweet and tastes like an artichoke. That’s why it’s called that way!
 

A little bit of history…

It was the Amerindians who first discovered the Jerusalem artichoke, before it was exported to Europe. 

The Europeans ate a lot of it during wartime since the Jerusalem artichoke is easy to grow regardless of the temperature, it can even grow under the snow! 

Is it because of its association with the war that this robust vegetable was then rejected from our plates? The story doesn’t tell. Certainly, once you get to taste it, you’ll adopt it!

Cooking tip

Cook the Jerusalem artichoke in the same way as a potato: boiled, baked, mashed or fried !

Serve it gratin with garlic and chives. It goes well with poultry or white meats. You can simply fry it with butter or with duck fat, cream and bacon for a more delectable experience. You can even revisit your mashed potatoes by mixing Jerusalem artichoke and potatoes. In addition, unlike the potato, the Jerusalem artichoke can be eaten raw. Use them in your arugula salad with a touch of lemon to avoid its oxidation.

Where to find it?

The Jerusalem artichoke grows in Quebec! You can buy it in farm markets or directly from the grower. We can eat it all winter! However, the Jerusalem artichoke can’t be found in all grocery stores. Don’t hesitate to ask your grocer.

For people who enjoy gardening, the Jerusalem artichoke is known to be very easy to grow because they grow in all types of soil. Just make sure you have enough space in your garden, because their small yellow flowers take more territory from year to year.