You might understandably wonder what to do with this root vegetable when you discover it in the shop. Is it a strange, exotic variant of the potato? It is exotic for sure. The Jerusalem artichoke is an irregularly shaped tuber which is grown in several colours, usually pale brown and purple. It also has a special origin, because the Jerusalem artichoke is actually a member of the sunflower family. Originally, the tubers were grown in North America. It is also known as the ‘earth apple’ or sunchoke.
The tuber tastes sweet, with a nutty, earthy flavour. With a little imagination, the taste is not too dissimilar to globe artichokes. The pleasantly sweet taste makes them a great choice to add variety to your vegetable range. Inside, the white or creamy yellow flesh is fibrous and crunchy.