Time to enjoy the nourishing roots

My first attempt of growing Jerusalem artichoke is fascinating! Look at this gorgeous beauty, I’m really happy how they turned out!

When I planted the Jerusalem artichoke a few months ago I didn’t know what to expect. I remembered the feeling when I was a kid and my grandma was giving me a peeled and sliced artichoke and I absolutely loved the crunchiness, slight sweetness, nuttiness and earthiness. And just wanted to bring back this warm memory.

Fun fact: Despite its name, Jerusalem artichokes have no connection to Jerusalem and are not an artichoke. Actually it is a variety of sunflower with an edible tuber root, and in North America is also known as a ‘sunchoke’. My grandma called it ‘earth apple’.

Jerusalem artichoke is a perennial vegetable, it doesn’t need much care while it’s growing and you don’t have to replant it every year. It simply seeds itself and all you have to do is reap the harvest at the end of the season. Each root can produce up to 75 and as many as 200 tubers during a year!

Research has shown that the tubers contain more protein than soybeans, corn, wheat or beans. It also contains small levels of valuable B-complex group of vitamins such as folates, pyridoxine, pantothenic acid, riboflavin and thiamin. Jerusalem artichokes are a very good source of minerals and electrolytes, especially potassium, iron and copper.

But the greatest benefit is that they have a high level of inulin, which is a prebiotic fiber with a lot of digestive and immune benefits. It can stimulate growth of bifidobacteria, which fights harmful bacteria and helps reduce certain carcinogenetic enzymes. And just 20g grams give you your recommended amount of prebiotics for a day!

Worth to have it in the garden, right.