16 January 2008
Jerusalem fartijokes
For some time I have been planning to grow jerusalem artichokes in one of the perennial beds in the new potager. I’ve heard so much about them and thought they sounded intriguing and delicious. Until recently, however, I had never tasted them and I wasn’t about to order something to take up space in my teeny garden if there was a chance that I wouldn’t like them. I might be flighty and irresponsible when it comes to ordering potatoes, but at least I know I actually like spuds. I’m a little more sensible the rest of the time. Honest.
So, in the interest of finally getting organised, we bought some ‘chokes from the supermarket last week and made them into soup with carrots and onions. We loved them. The soup was gorgeous. Different. So we will definitely be growing them and I have now ordered a bunch for planting this year.
I will have to be extremely careful about when we eat the blighters though because after our lovely lunch, the farting started and I thought it would never stop. Flatulence is a well-known side-effect of jerusalem artichokes, thanks to a starch they contain called inulin which is, apparently phenomenally good for you. I guess that depends on how sensitive your nose is (mine isn’t at all, but I have friends to consider) and on the staying power of your gusset. Honestly, the reaction of my innards to them was seriously stinking and powerful. A veritable gale in my trousers, I can tell you. The effect is supposed to lessen if you build up your tolerance. Lessen, not disappear, mark you!
Reports of gales in the South Birmingham area at the weekend might or might not have been related to this new culinary experience.
Filed under: Review & plan — Clare @ 4:57 pm
Was reading Amateur Gardening (I know, and I’m only 31, not 65!)and they look like easiest plants to grow in the world - maybe I wouldn’t kill! They grow on all types of soil, with a lot of water, drought…you name it. The good news is that you can reduce the ‘gales’ by par boiling them first, throw the water away and then cook again in fresh water. Seems like a a right (jerusalem) fart about, but probably worth up to save your innards…and your sense of smell! C ya
(16.01.08 @ 6:46 pm)
Hi Cat - Yes, ease of cultivation is a plus for me too! I like the idea of par-boiling and then changing the water if it is effective - we’ll give it a go and report back!
(16.01.08 @ 6:52 pm)
Ah yes. Am painfully familiar with this symptom. The wife and I ate artichoke soup (absolutely delicious) not long ago, and I swear you could see the duvet billow as we lay in bed that night. The cat decamped to another room.
Only one foodstuff I’m aware of can top this: dried apricots. We ate a large bag (again, sensationally delicious) while touring Petra, in Jordan. In our hotel room that evening, I was nervous about lighting cigarettes. That’s all I’m saying.
(17.01.08 @ 6:44 pm)
Soilman - more ventilation required! I’m not a fan of apricots anyway, so shouldn;t have too much trouble steering clear of them. But I absolutely adore satay broad beans. I’ve only ever seen then at Julian Graves stores and they seem to be broad beans deep fried in a peanut sauce so that they are hard, cripsy, irresistible and shockingly fart-inducing. Really, really stinky too, or so I’m told - being anosmic I have no problems with the smell. Delicious but dangerous.
(18.01.08 @ 11:31 am)
Jerusalem artichokes. Beware - once you plant them you will have them forever! I put a couple ,which I bought from the supermarket, into our potager two summers ago. I dug them out last spring - or so I thought. They just came up again. They are elicious raw by the way and make a passable substitute for water chestnuts.
(09.04.08 @ 12:02 pm)