What is salsify?

Question

Where is this commonly eaten and how is it prepared? Any idea where it's found? If you have any good recipes, please post.

Thanks

Answer 1

Food Lover's Companion: salsify

[SAL-sih-fee] This root vegetable is also known as oyster plant because its taste resembles a delicately flavored oyster. The parsnip-shaped salsify can reach up to 12 inches in length and 21⁄2 inches in diameter. The most commonly found salsify has a white-fleshed root with grayish skin, though there are varieties with a pale golden skin, as well as one with a black skin (also called scorzonera). Though salsify is more popular in Europe than in the United States, it can be found here from June through February, usually in Spanish, Italian and Greek markets. Choose well-formed roots that are heavy for their size and not too gnarled. Refrigerate, wrapped in a plastic bag, up to a week. Salsify is generally eaten plain as a vegetable, or used in savory pies and soups.

Answer 2

I cut and pasted this because it was so clearly written....the website is listed below.

Salsify  is a vegetable whose root and leaves can be used for cooking purposes. It is also known as white salsify, goatsbeard, vegetable oyster, and the oyster plant. The latter two names reflect the root's taste, which when cooked, resembles an oyster.

You can purchase fresh salsify in many supermarkets and specialty stores during the winter months. You can also buy canned salsify year-round. However, canned salsify is not always an easy item to locate. When purchasing fresh salsify, you will find roots that are approximately 8-12 inches long and one inch in diameter. Select only those roots that are firm to the touch and that are well developed. Once purchased, you can safely store the fresh salsify in your home for up to one week as long as the roots are wrapped in plastic and placed in your refrigerator. When you are ready to use the salsify, cut-off its root ending then use a peeler to remove its outer skin and coating. To avoid discoloration of the root prior to its use, take the newly peeled salsify and drop it into a solution of water and lemon juice.

Common uses for salsify in cooking include cutting the root into 1/2-inch cubes and adding it to stews and soups. The root can also be microwaved, boiled, steamed, creamed, or mashed. A popular recipe suggests cooking the salsify root then mashing it and forming the mashed salsify into patties that are then fried. Because salsify root has an unusual taste, you may want to experiment with using it in recipes. While it is known for its oyster-like flavor, many people have also claimed it tastes similar to an artichoke. When cooked it also has the texture of an artichoke heart.

Much more information can be found on this website:

http://www.essortment.com/all/whatissals...

Answer 3

Salsify is a root vegetable usually long and thinnish 2-400mm long and 25-35mm accross.Its skin is a quite unattractive dirty brownish.Once peeled is white. Finely grated and fried with garlic and onion,like a roesti its quite nice,a bit like parsnip perhaps