Apologies in advance

My Jerusalem artichokes are ready. Apologies in advance to anyone who is near me in the next couple of days!

If you don't have any of these combustible vegetables yourself, you can get some at Abel and Cole. I'm a customer in the winter when my veg patch goes bare.

But what does one do with a bushel of them? I found this Abel and Cole recipe for Jerusalem Artichoke soup, and tried it for Sunday lunch. Two of the three ate it, and I just had a modest amount. That left the majority to hubby, who is clueless about the affects of this vegetable. He ate two bowls full. I'll spare you the details.

Jerusalem Artichoke Soup

25 g (1 oz) butter
1 onion, chopped
1 clove garlic, crushed
500 g (1 lb) Jerusalem artichokes, washed and sliced
400 ml (3/4 pt) milk
1 stock cube
25g (1 oz) cornflour
Salt and pepper to taste
2 teaspoons fresh parsley, chopped
2 teaspoons spoons single cream

Melt the butter in a large heavy based saucepan and cook the onion with a pinch of salt until softened but not coloured. Add the garlic and artichokes and fry for a further few minutes. Then add the vegetable stock and milk, cover the saucepan and simmer gently for 25 minutes or until the jerusalem artichoke pieces are tender. Process in a liquidiser or food processor until smooth then return to the rinsed pan. In a small dish, blend the cornflour with 2 x 15ml spoons water and stir in a few spoonfuls of soup, return this mixture to the saucepan and bring to the boil whilst stirring continuously. Remove from the heat, season to taste, stir in the parsley and garnish with cream.

Comments

[mothership]

I had a friend as a child whose father actually woke them up with the sound of his farts after he ate them FROM A TOTALLY DIFFERENT ROOM.
It was legendary.
Good luck with that dish.

[A Modern Mother]

I hate to think... our girls had a few "bottom burps" after the soup... poor cherubs...

[Vegemitevix]

thanks for posting this recipe! My daughter's junior school gave out some Jerusalem artichokes for Harvest festival celebrations, and I didn't know what to do with them. I roasted them. I didn't realise that they were akin to baked beans in the ozone depleting gas stakes! LOL!

[A Modern Mother]

Vege -- consider yourself warned...

[Jennysnail]

One of our neighbours grows these (he likes them as the plants are tall and make a wind break) and every couple of years gives us a carrier bag. They are the most horrible and pointless vegetable ever! Not only are they all nobbly and difficult to peel they have absolutely no taste. They're not too bad sliced up in a stir fry (a bit like water chestnuts) but I really hope he doesn't give us any this year.

[Metropolitan Mum]

Have I mentioned I am green with envy on your veg patch? I don't even manage to shop veg in time to make dinner. Or when I do, it tends to develop this little white fur in the veg drawer in my fridge. How do you do it?? I know, you don't know either.

[kat]

I adore JAs and look forward with anticipation to the season each year. They are great with watercress as a soup (lessens the effect somehow) and this recipe: http://www.sacredearth.com/ethnobotany/foraging/Sunchokes.php (top left) by JO is scrummy!

[A Modern Mother]

Jenny-- that's too funny, I just gave a bunch of ours away and I wonder if they think the same thing!

Met--I admit to having a bit of help (our gardener)

Kat -- thanks for the recipe, will try it.

[Potty Mummy]

I love jerusalem artichoke soup, but the after-effects, oh my... Why didn't you stop him? Reminds me of that old 'Allo Allo episode when they go into the grandmother's bedroom and Rene's wife screams "Do not light ze candle until you 'ave opened ze window!"

[A Modern Mother]

Potty -- I have no idea why I didn't stop him. I even encouraged him. It's mummy rot I tell you.

[TooManyHats]

I've never had Jerusalem artichokes and perhaps I will pass if ever offered some.