Jerusalem Artichokes

Artichokes are easy to prepare. We like to just give them a scrub and leave them unpeeled.  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 like chestnuts when raw. Baked in their skins, they become more like potatoes.