Easy Rosemary Roasted Jerusalem Artichokes

These oven-roasted Jerusalem artichokes with rosemary make the perfect vegetarian side dish. Oven roasting is the most effortless way to prepare this root vegetable and requires only 10 minutes of preparation. As an artichoke lover, this is definitely one of my favorite winter vegetable recipes.

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• All about Jerusalem artichokes
• Step-by-step with pictures
• More oven roasted vegetable recipes
• The recipe

All about Jerusalem artichokes

Jerusalem artichokes, also known as sunchokes or topinambours in French belong to the family of root vegetables. Nowadays, they are often considered forgotten vegetables because they are neglected in modern cuisines. Few people know how to prepare them, even though you can cook them similarly to potatoes.

What do Jerusalem artichokes taste like?

Their taste is very surprising since it is very similar to artichokes, hence their name. Jerusalem artichokes also have a slightly sweet taste due to their fructose content. So to all the artichoke lovers out there, this root vegetable is for you!

How to clean Jerusalem artichokes

First, use a clean brush that you use solely for cooking purposes to remove any dirt. Then, rinse them under cold water until perfectly clean.

Do I need to peel Jerusalem artichokes?

If cleaned thoroughly, there is no need to remove the skin of Jerusalem artichokes before roasting. In fact, it will give make them even more crispy. Note that if you're using them in a soup or puree, you might want to peel them to obtain a light-colored dish.

How to cook Jerusalem artichokes?

• Boiled: sunchokes can be peeled and simply cooked in boiling water. Make sure to work quickly once they are peeled since they brown quickly (or keep them in water with a little lemon juice or vinegar until cooking). Boiled sunchokes are great in soups or as a puree.
• Roasted: you can roast them in a pan on the stovetop or in the oven. Follow this recipe to make simple oven roasted Jerusalem artichokes or prepare them as a gratin.
• Air-fried: as an alternative to oven or pan-roasted vegetables, Jerusalem artichokes can be prepared in the air-fryer. Note that I didn't have the opportunity to test air-fried Jerusalem artichokes yet and can therefore not give any indications on the required cooking time.

Are Jerusalem artichokes difficult to digest?

Jerusalem artichokes are rich in indigestible fiber and carbohydrates (e.g., inulin). When they reach the colon, they are fermented by the gut bacteria and cause flatulence. It is therefore recommended to eat them in moderate amounts.

Compared to potatoes, which contain high amounts of digestible starch, Jerusalem artichokes don't cause blood sugar spikes (since the carbohydrates cannot be broken down and absorbed in the intestine). For this reason, they are usually recommended to people trying to keep their blood sugar levels low or stable.

Step-by-step with pictures

Wash, cut the Jerusalem artichokes and add spices. Clean them thoroughly (read above how to wash them correctly) and place them in a salad bowl. Ass the olive oil, salt and spices.

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Bake the Jerusalem artichokes. Place them cut side down on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Baked until golden brown and small bubbles start appearing.

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Adjust seasoning. Add more fresh rosemary, as well as some more sea salt and herbs if desired.

More oven roasted vegetable recipes

• Crispy oven-roasted potato wedges
• Vegan roasted Brussels sprouts with caesar dressing
• Roasted celery root with oat crumble

The recipe