My mother used to make pickles from her bed of artichokes. I now buy a jar of pickles several times a year.

I grew them a long time ago, found they became a garden pest (even with raised beds) and that I didn't like them baked, boiled, mashed, fried, stir fried, or any other way I tried them. To me, they have that same bitter taste that puts people off turnips.

Pickling would most likely take care of that.

That way it won't take much effort to determine whether you like them or not. They should be very crisp. Occasionally you get a jar where the pickling failed and the contents are mushy.

When I first moved out here, I was thrown into culture shock when past meant spaghetti, elbow macaroni, and soup noodles, but there was a whole aisle with tortillas on one side and chile sauce, powders, and peppers on the other. Eventually I located a mega mart with a better selection, but whoa!

Pickles out here are cucumber or jalapeno, haven't seen too much more than that.

Also known as fartichokes. Depending on your personal gut chemistry they may cause unbelievable flatulence. Try a very small portion the first time you eat them. Something about the inulin feeding your gut bacteria. Various methods (pickling, boiling in lemon juice) are said to prevent this. Also some say to leave them in the ground till midwinter.

my fave restaurant had them on the menu, and ppl were calling the next day, thinkin they got food poisoning.

I loved the bloom, as did all the bees! I planted black beans among them to climb. First year growing Bohemian horseradish as well. I dried some of the sunchokes and add to stews. I'll make horseradish sauce maybe this weekend.

don't they. Welcome to DU. glad you're here

Toss them in some olive oil and salt. Roast them in the oven on a baking sheet. Don't mix them with anything. The flavor is lovely. Serve with roast chicken or grilled/pan-fried pork chops. A green leafy salad.

Last edited Fri Nov 10, 2023, 01:08 PM - Edit history (1)

which was a chicken stew with Jerusalem artichokes. When I can find them, I usually eat them in salads.

Fun fact: Jerusalem artichokes are one of the few foods that originated in North America. If you plant the tubers, you end up with some anemic-looking sunflowers - and more Jerusalem artichokes than you need

patch is 3 yrs old, and had to b beaten back a few times this yr.
it’s in the sunflower family, but it looks more like a very tall black eyed susan. make nice cut flowers.