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In itself, the preparation of the miracle tuber Jerusalem artichoke is not difficult. However, there are a few things you should keep in mind when peeling and cooking.

Jerusalem Artichoke: Good for digestion and a slim figure

Jerusalem Artichoke is a perennial sunflower with bright yellow flowers. Like the tomato or the potato, the tuber was brought to Europe by French emigrants from North America in the 17th century. Visually, it resembles ginger, but tastes more like parsnip, but with a nuttier taste.

The tuber can be processed in many ways, for example to:

soups
puree
Casserole
potato pancakes
and even raw in a salad.
In addition to its excellent taste, Jerusalem artichoke has other positive properties. The tuber has 30 kilocalories per 100 grams and is high in fiber, which is important for good digestion. This includes, for example, the water-soluble dietary fiber inulin. This makes them particularly interesting for diabetics, as their consumption does not affect the blood sugar level, but has a positive effect on the intestinal flora. It is also rich in potassium and iron.

You have to pay attention to this when cooking and peeling

First, use a good vegetable brush to thoroughly scrub and clean the mostly earthy tubers in cold water.
Remove dark spots with a knife.
You don’t need to peel it as the skin is very thin and can be eaten. If it still bothers you, you can peel Jerusalem artichoke thinly with a paring knife. This is particularly recommended for larger tubers. Alternatively, you can peel the peel after cooking. That’s a little easier.
The Jerusalem artichoke is now ready for further processing: In contrast to potatoes, you can also eat it raw, for example in a salad or on a raw vegetable platter. If you want to prepare the tuber as a Jerusalem artichoke soup, casserole or puree, you should cook it for 15 to 30 minutes.

Undesirable side effects of Jerusalem artichoke

In addition to its many positive properties, Jerusalem artichoke unfortunately also has a few unpleasant side effects. Consuming them can cause severe gas and even diarrhea if you overeat. This is due to the large amount of roughage, which the intestinal flora often has to get used to digesting. It’s best to approach it slowly and start with very small portions. This gives the intestine time to adjust to the new food.

American in origin, Jerusalem artichoke is not only a delicious root vegetable, but also a wonderful cure for many diseases. How much do you know about Jerusalem artichoke?

  1. This vegetable has been known to mankind for thousands of years. His homeland is North America. Even today, thickets of wild types of Jerusalem artichoke occupy vast areas. It came to Europe more than 400 years ago – it was brought here by the Spanish conquerors. The root crop owes its name to the Jerusalem artichoke province, where it was a very popular crop among the Brazilian Indians.
  2. By the way, Jerusalem artichoke is the closest relative of the well-known sunflower: its official name is “tuberous sunflower”. Our plant is called “earthen pear” – the roots really look like a sweet fruit.
  3. With the juice from Jerusalem artichoke tubers, the tubers themselves and a decoction from the stems of the plant, our ancestors treated wounds and burns, pain in the joints and spine, insomnia, poor appetite and loss of strength.
  4. Modern scientists, having studied the composition of Jerusalem artichoke, were pleasantly surprised by the variety of nutrients it contains. The root vegetable is rich in a whole range of vitamins, in particular ascorbic acid and B vitamins, mineral salts of potassium, zinc, iron and silicon.
  5. Also in tubers there is a lot of protein, sugar, pectin substances, organic acids. But what is especially valuable, Jerusalem artichoke contains a plant analogue of human insulin – the polysaccharide inulin (it promotes the utilization of glucose in the body and the restoration of the liver). Thanks to this substance, the immune system is strengthened, the skin heals, excess weight goes away.
  6. In addition, inulin is a powerful medicine for hypertension, coronary heart disease, anemia, stomach ulcer, and eczema. And the juice from Jerusalem artichoke tubers has long been recognized as an indispensable tool for the prevention and treatment of diabetes.
  7. Moreover, there is evidence that the external and internal use of fresh juice from Jerusalem artichoke tubers helps restore pigmentation in vitiligo!
  8. Jerusalem artichoke herb has medicinal properties in the initial stage of flowering (August-September), as well as roots, which are dug up after the plant wilts (in September-October) or in spring after thawing of the soil. The ground part is preserved or dried, like all herbaceous plants. Root vegetables are stored in cellars like potatoes.
  9. Jerusalem artichoke is boiled, fried, stewed, baked, pickled, stuffed, but the most useful is a salad made from fresh root vegetables. The French believe that Jerusalem artichoke tastes like an artichoke.
  10. It is useful to prepare for future use a powder from Jerusalem artichoke tubers to use it as a seasoning for various dishes, as well as for making sauces, gravy and medicinal drinks. To do this, carefully washed tubers are cut into thin slices, dried at room temperature or in an oven at a temperature not exceeding 70 degrees, and then ground in a coffee grinder or mortar. Store the resulting powder in a glass jar with a tight-fitting lid.
  11. Eat Jerusalem artichoke raw to maximize its beneficial properties.

Tuber vegetables have been making a big comeback for a while now! The Jerusalem artichoke is at the forefront. Whether raw in salads, as the basis of a warming soup, or as a puree: the vegetable can be used in many different ways. However, you should process the Jerusalem artichoke quickly, because its shelf life is short.

Process Jerusalem artichokes quickly

Jerusalem artichoke should not be stored long after purchase but processed quickly. Vegetables are highly perishable and only last a few days, even in the refrigerator. In addition, it quickly loses its taste and valuable ingredients there.

Shopping tip

When buying Jerusalem artichokes, you should make sure that the tubers have an intact, evenly smooth, and shiny shell.

Topinambur is so healthy

Jerusalem artichoke contains about 16 percent of the dietary fiber inulin. This hardly affects the blood sugar level, which is why the tuber is particularly popular with diabetics. In addition, inulin has a positive effect on the intestinal flora, thus strengthening the body’s defenses and satiating for a long time.

In addition, Jerusalem artichoke is rich in potassium, calcium, phosphorus, and iron as well as vitamins C and D. The tuber is low in calories, which makes it perfect for figure-conscious eaters.