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Sunchoke Delivery or Pickup
The Instacart guide to sunchokes
About sunchoke
Sunchokes are also known as Jerusalem artichokes, but aside from being a vegetable, they couldn't be more different than artichokes. The sunchoke is a tuberous root vegetable that looks more like ginger than an artichoke. You'll find sunchokes on the rhizome of a certain North American sunflower species. Despite the "Jerusalem" in its nickname, sunchokes are native to North America.
The knobby skin of the sunchoke is light brown and rough. The sunchoke flesh is a creamy white color. The flesh offers a mild flavor that is described as a nuttier, sweeter version of a potato.
The taste is where the sunchoke got the Jerusalem artichoke name, as a French explorer who tried it for the first time likened its taste to that of an artichoke. It's generally accepted that the Jerusalem artichoke got the first part of its name from the Italian word for sunflower: "Girasole", which kind of sounds like Jerusalem. The sunchoke is also sometimes called an earth apple.
Sunchokes can turn your dinners into conversation pieces by adding an interesting variation on familiar dishes. Though you can use the sunchoke as you would a potato, the sunchoke's unique flavors can make a side or entree shine.
How to pick out sunchokes
Sunchokes are the freshest during their harvests in autumn and spring. When you're shopping for sunchokes, try to choose those that still have a healthy light brown color. Some sunchokes are slightly red or purple, which is fine. Give them a squeeze to look for any soft spots. If you find too many soft spots, the sunchoke may have been damaged somewhere between its travels from harvest to your hand.
If you plan on slicing your sunchokes, try to choose those that don't have many knobs to make the job easier. Generally, as long as the sunchoke is firm and not too dried out, you'll be safe to purchase and use it.
How to cook with sunchokes
As with any ground plant, you should give your sunchokes a good scrubbing before you cook with them. The sunchoke's skin is edible, but you can try to peel them if you don't want them in your recipes.
Sunchokes are often roasted to create a crispy exterior and a soft interior. To roast your sunchokes, you can slice them, toss them with olive oil and spices, and then put them in the oven for 20 minutes at 425 degrees Fahrenheit. If you thin-slice them, you can fry them to enjoy sunchoke chips that make the perfect snack. Generally, you can prepare a sunchoke in many of the same ways you would a potato or carrot.
One of the most popular dishes that feature the sunchoke has to be pureed sunchoke soup. This creamy and silky soup is the perfect way to bring in the fall with unique, earth-inspired flavors.
It would be remiss of us if we didn't tell you that sunchokes notoriously lead to gas and bloating for many people who eat them. Sunchokes produce a carbohydrate called inulin, which the human body cannot digest. Since inulin sensitivity varies from person to person and inulin levels vary from sunchoke to sunchoke, you may not experience symptoms, but you may want to keep this in mind if you want to use the sunchoke in a dinner for guests or family.
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FAQs about sunchoke
Sunchokes are fairly low in calories by themselves and are a great source of potassium and iron. Here are the basic nutrition facts for one cup of sliced sunchoke:
- Calories: 110
- Total fat: 0 grams
- Cholesterol: 0 milligrams
- Sodium: 6 milligrams, 0% of your recommended daily value
- Potassium: 644 milligrams, 18% of your daily value
- Total carbohydrates: 26 grams, 9% of your daily value
- Dietary fiber: 2.4 grams, 10% of your daily value
- Sugars: 14 grams
- Protein: 3 grams
- Vitamin A: 0.6% of your daily value
- Vitamin C: 10% of your daily value
- Calcium: 1.6% of your daily value
- Iron: 28% of your daily value
You should keep your sunchokes in a plastic bag in the refrigerator. For better results, wrap the sunchoke in a paper towel before placing it in the plastic bag to wick away moisture. If your sunchoke is too moist, its decaying process will happen sooner. Sunchokes generally last about seven to 10 days.
If you're trying to make this week's dinners shine with sunchoke, but you don't have the time to peruse the aisles of the grocery store, take a look at what Instacart has to offer. Instacart allows you to shop at some of your favorite local grocery stores without stepping foot in them. Choose the items you need and want and place your order for delivery or pick-up! Instacart shoppers then head out to the store of your choosing to collect your items for you. With Instacart, you turn your grocery store runs from time-consuming to easy.