A reader has written in about Jerusalem Artichokes. “They are vigorous and easy to grow. When they flower, they look like a sunflower and are as tall, but the edible part is the root tuber, which is harvested when the flowers wilt and the plant starts to die. To harvest, the plant needs to be pulled out. I cut up the plant and use it as mulch around my fruit trees. I cook the root the same way we do potatoes but we especially like to roast them as slices of about 5mm thick. We do this by laying the slices in a roasting dish and cooking for about 20 minutes in a medium oven. To give them some added flavour I placed them in a good quality olive oil and add garlic – but green herbs would also add flavour. They are so easy to grow and the plants look good too.”
18
May