Sunchokes in the Garden (Why it’s a Good Idea to Have Them)

Sunchokes in the Garden
(Why it’s a Good Idea to Have Them)

Many people may not see value in including this beautiful vegetable/flower in their garden. I’m here to tell you that not only are sunchokes beautiful to look at, the roots are surprisingly nutritious!

Consider many reasons to grow this miraculous flower in your garden. According to Commonsensehome.com, sunchokes are becoming a filler in many foods to bump up the fiber counts. It also increases calcium absorption in the body, and doesn’t spike blood sugar. (See the book “Perennial Vegetables” for all the details.) Did you know that there are even sweeteners made for diabetics made out of sunchokes?

 

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What is a Sunchoke?

The Sunchoke is the root of a perennial sunflower. A sunchoke also is called Jerusalem artichoke but it is not related to the artichoke. Weird, right? The name Jerusalem artichoke is believed to have developed from the mispronunciation of the Italian name for this plant which is girasole articiocco which means sunflower artichoke. Girasole articiocco became Jerusalem artichoke.

This delicacy can be eaten raw or cooked. It’s crunchy, delicate, sweet, and has a nutty flavor. The taste is kind of like jicama, water chestnuts, or artichokes. It may have a smidgen of kohlrabi taste.

 

1. Having Sunchokes in the Garden will provide food without going to the grocery store

Many resources will tell you to be careful because these plants could be invasive. However, as invasive as they may seem, this may be the reason you would like to have these plants in your garden. If your family is large, having a garden that produces large quantities of food can help prepare for self-sufficiency!

 

2. Having sunchokes in the garden will provide food that is nutritious

Sunchokes will produce a small potato-like vegetable that are usually the size of ping-pong balls. Some believe these delightful vegetables may cause gas if too many are consumed. Again, if this is the case, could this be because the body needs a little housecleaning? Then again, slow-cooking will help with digestion upset, according to Sally Fallon. See Wise Tradition thoughts here. Some studies show that sunchokes can be low starch if prepared without any breading or carbs. This link talks about how sunchokes work with our digestive systems.

3. Having sunchokes in the garden could improve your soil

In addition, growing sunchokes in the garden can help your soil. Similar to the Mexican Sunflower, the leftover remnants of the leaves and stalk may help support soil nutrients. You can ready my enewsletter about the Mexican Sunflower here. Sunchokes can grow as high as 12 feet as well, helping to nourish the soil or provide greens for the chickens and other wild life.

(Here are some other ideas on what to grow for chickens or wildlife.)

 

4. Having sunchokes in the garden could help provide variety in your diet

Cooked sunchokes can be stored in an airtight container and used within 2 days. Alternatively, you can have them stored raw in the fridge for about a week. Adding sunchokes cooked in a variety of ways and including them with your main meal breaks up the monotony of potatoes or rice.

Cooking Methods for Sunchokes

Boil

1. Clean and trim or cut the sunchokes.
2. Boil them in salted water until they’re just tender, about 10 minutes.
3. Drain the sunchokes and, when cool enough to handle, press each one flat using the bottom of a heavy skillet or a potato masher. Add butter and herbs as desired.

Pan-Roasting or Sautéing

1. Heat oil or butter in a cast-iron skillet over medium heat.
2. Allow to sauté for 3-5 minutes without flipping or moving.
3. Flip the sunchokes and add butter to the pan. Stir until browned on the second side, about 3 minutes longer.
4. Add herbs such as thyme or parsley and salt.

Other

1. Roasting:  Roast in a preheated oven at 425°F (220°C) for 30-40 minutes, or until tender and caramelized, with your favorite herbs and spices.
2. Steaming: Steam until tender, about 10-15 minutes. You can peel or serve them with their skin on.

 

Harvesting Sunchokes

Late summer you may start to see the brilliant flowers begin to fade. As the green leaves turn brown and the foliage falls away from the main stalk, it’s just about time to harvest your sunchokes. The photo below shows this process in my garden.

 

 

Comment below and let me know your experiences with sunchokes!

 

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He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf also shall not wither; and whatever he does shall prosper. Psalm 1:3

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Redmond Salt

Cast Iron Pan

If you cook with cast iron, you definitely need a holder!

 

Other Equipment ideas/suggestions:

Steamer

Wormcastings

Gardening gloves (these are awesome)

Drying rack

Plant Propagation Station for root sprouting

Back to Basics Book

Garden Journal

A good resource for raising worms for worm castings

A great resource on what soil is and soil links to other scientific information in this site.

Seeds!

 

Some links are affiliate links, which means I make a small commission at no extra cost to you. See more info here.