What is gobo root?

Question

What is a gobo root and how do you cook it?

Is it nutritious?

Answer 1

Edible burdock is called gobo in Japanese foodstores.

Brown Rice with Burdock and Mushrooms

4 medium shiitake (or other robust mushrooms such as dried porcini)

2 cups hot water

1 Tablespoon vegetable oil

1 medium burdock root (about 1/4 pound)

2 cups cold water mixed with 1 teaspoon salt

1 cup long-grain brown rice

1 small carrot and/or parsnip, sliced

1/2 teaspoon salt

1. Cut shiitake caps into thin strips or rehydrate porcini in warm water.

2. Scrub burdock and whittle it off in slivers, placing them in cold salted water as you proceed. Soak five minutes. Drain burdock and place in a heavy oven-proof pot with water, mushrooms, rice, carrot, and salt. Bring to a boil, stirring occasionally.

3. Remove from the stove and cover. Bake in a 350 degrees F oven forty-five minutes. Let stand fifteen to thirty minutes. Uncover, fluff, and serve.

This recipe is from a site with lots of information about burdock's health properties.

Answer 2

Gobo root is the Japanese name for the root of the greater burdock (Arctium lappa) plant. Utilized as both a vegetable and a seasoning agent, gobo root is also prized for the medicinal properties attributed to it.