Jerusalem Artichoke and Carrot Soup

Artichokes are easy to prepare, we like to just give them a scrub and leave them unpeeled for this delicious soup. Jerusalem artichoke is not truly an artichoke but a variety of sunflower with a lumpy, brown-skinned tuber that often resembles a ginger root. Contrary to what the name implies, this vegetable has nothing to do with Jerusalem but is derived instead from the Italian word for sunflower, girasole. The white flesh of this vegetable is nutty, sweet and crunchy and is a good source of iron. With the addition of carrots and a squeeze of lemon this is a lovely soup.