Wednesday, April 11, 2012

JERUSALEM ARTICHOKE SOUP

A-Z Soups
Maybe you have seen Jerusalem Artichokes in the market but didn’t know what to do with them. Confusion comes easy here. They have nothing to do with Jerusalem and they are not related to artichokes. Some greengrocers have taken to calling them Sunchokes.

Italian immigrants in the USA called the plant girasole (meaning: turning toward the sun) because it looked like the sunflower, and girasole got corrupted to Jerusalem.

You can make a nice creamy soup with Jerusalem artichokes and when you serve this to guests, sit back and take the compliments they are sure to issue.

Recipe from Cook’s Library Soups. Parragon Publishing, UK, 2003

Jerusalem Artichoke Soup                                             serves 6

Ingredients:

  1. 1 pound of Jerusalem Artichokes
  2. 2 teaspoons butter
  3. 1 onion, chopped finely

  1. ½ cup peeled and cubed rutabaga or turnip
  2. 1 strip of peeled lemon zest (yellow part only)

  1. 3 cups vegetable bouillon or stock
  2. 3 tablespoons heavy cream
  3. 1 tablespoon lemon juice, or to taste
  4. 4 tablespoons lightly toasted pine nuts

Method:

  • Peel the Jerusalem artichokes and cut into pieces
  • Place in a bowl of cold water to prevent darkening
  • Melt the butter in a large saucepan over medium flame
  • Put in onion and cook 3 minutes, stirring, until soft
  • Drain the Jerusalem artichokes
  • Put them in the saucepan along with the rutabaga and lemon zest
  • Pour in the bouillon plus a little salt and pepper
  • Stir and bring to a boil, then simmer 20 minutes until vegetables are tender
  • Allow soup to cool slightly
  • Puree in batches in an electric blender
  • Return the soup to saucepan and stir in the cream
  • Simmer for about 5 minutes to reheat
  • Add the lemon juice and check the seasoning and adjust accordingly
  • Ladle soup into bowls and place pine nuts atop.

Serve this Jerusalam artichoke soup (or Sunchoke soup if you prefer) now and brace yourself for the imminent praise, maybe even from as far away as Jerusalem.

17 comments:

Eat To Live said...

Do you know, I have never cooked Jerusalem Artichokes. I am going to have to try this and see how it tastes.

anthony stemke said...

MY JOURNEY WITH CANDIDA: They are like swiss chard, a lot of people just pass them by. If you can eat this vegetable I hope you will. This soup tastes good.

Joyce said...

YUM!

nutschell said...

you always know how to make me hungry!
Nutschell
www.thewritingnut.com
Happy A-Zing!

Lynn Proctor said...

fascinating and look wonderful!

anthony stemke said...

JOYCE: Concisely.

NUTSCHELL: Thank You, as always you are very kind.

LYNN PROCTOR: Thank You Lynn, this soup should be more popular.

Al Penwasser said...

Isn't an artichoke the plant that can have its leaves pulled off to eat? Not too crazy about that, but.....
the soup looks real good, though.

Ladydragonfly1958 said...

This sounds and looks really wonderful. I am going to have to put this on my menu soon. Thanks!

Torviewtoronto said...

delicious looking soup wonderfully done

anthony stemke said...

AL PENWASSER: Yes, that is an artichoke. This soup is made with a different vegetable that is called a "Jerusalem Artichoke" or a Sunchoke. It is totally different from that vegetable that you don't care for, and in fact I don't care too much for, called artichokes, which are different from jerusalem artichokes or sunchokes. Just remember Jerusalem, when coupled with artichokes is not - artichokes.

LADYDRAGONFLY: Thank you. You will be glad you did when you do.

TORVIEWTORONTO: Thank you, it is a delicious soup.

Sharkbytes said...

I should try this. I'm trying to visit all the A-Z Challenge Blogs this month.

Jeremy Bates said...

While I love my various soups, I am a scared y-cat when it comes to vegetables. I wouldn't know an artichoke from an asparagus sandwich if it weren't for the bread.

My mouth is telling my brain, no way, Jose. lol

Lynda R Young as Elle Cardy said...

The weather is starting to get chilly here in Oz so these soup recipes are fab!!

anthony stemke said...

SHARKBYTES: Thank You for visiting. When you get off the trail please consider this soup.

JEREMY BATES: Vegetables can be scary if your relationship to them has been scarred by badly over-boiled or cooked to death vegetables with little or no seasoning.

anthony stemke said...

LYNDA R YOUNG: I hope you will try some of these soups.

Kate OMara said...

Hi Anthony
Printed this recipe out too. My kids love artichokes. :)
Kate
http://whenkateblogs.blogspot.com/

anthony stemke said...

KATE O'MARA: Technically these are not artichokes but a different vegetable altogether albeit delicious.

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