Salsify Recipe

Salsify — heard of it? I hadn't and as I type this, my computer is highlighting the word as being spelled wrong, offering up suggestions as if I meant falsify, falsity? No, I mean salsify, the vegetable — root vegetable to be exact. Well, I had to do my research after Suzi Lilly from Farm to family called and let me know she'd come across a great crop and had it available at the market. Many shoppers had been inquiring about what on the outside appears to be an ugly vegetable, and ask how it tastes and how to prepare it?

Her challenge to me was to not only educate myself but also educate the readers of E.A.T.. What a worthy education as it was especially a tasty veggie on the palate.

First lets address the nutritional value and as it states this food is low in Sodium, and very low in Cholesterol. It is also a good source of Dietary Fiber, Vitamin C, Riboflavin, Vitamin B6, Potassium and Manganese. In my research most were stating it is fibrous and to steam the vegetable before roasting (the method I chose).





Recipe: (adapted from notes on the menu)

• 1 lb of salsify (Farm to family has these in stock now)
• 3 inch piece of fresh ginger shaved
• 2-3T honey (Bearer farms honey was used here)
• 2T butter

Peel salsify with a vegetable peeler. Turn back the brown stalks until the green stalks are exposed. Trim these as desired. If you are not going to use the stalks immediately after peeling place in a lemon water bath as to avoid discoloration. Stem the stalks for 10 minutes. Place in a roasting pan and sprinkle with lemon zest and ginger. Cover with foil and bake at 350 degrees for about 40 minutes.

Remove from oven spread butter and drizzle with honey. Turning the heat up to 400 degrees roast uncovered for about 10 minutes. Serve immediately.

There are other recipes like grating salsify and mixing with potatoes to create pancakes or dicing and roasting with other root vegetables. No matter what you choose I would highly recommend adding this vegetable to the rotation and impress your guests with a vegetable they may very well have never have heard of.

So have you or do you salsify?

E.A.T. local E.A.T. well