The black salsify is all up and processed. ⭐ In total, we got about 2.8kg. Some of that, we enjoyed right away. The rest, we froze and pickled.

As usual, cleanup after peeling was the worst part. The sticky latex is a bitch to get off. But I got a pretty good system going, peeling the salsify in a bucket of water and vinegar and rinsing often. Only the knife and peeler were truly gunked up.

I'm always very happy to have such an abundance of black salsify. The few times it is available in the shop at all, it's not the best quality and crazy expensive (and you still have to peel it yourself). This harvest was essentially free since we started with seeds from my mom and these hardy taproots really don't need any further care. Also, while it is growing, the leaves can be thrown into any dish for a little extra crunch and fibre. 🥗

#blacksalsify #growyourown #homesteading

As we are pulling up the black salsify, I am reminded of the hours spent cleaning the seeds last year. We let the salsify bloom for once to restock and ended up with a literal bucket stuffed full. Most of the bulk was just the pappus, though, so for long term storage, I spent the winter evenings mindlessly picking out the seeds while I watched videos. In the end, that whole bucket was about half a jar of seeds.

#seeds #blacksalsify #seedsaving

A meal from the garden. Black salsify, cooked and then briefly fried in butter, stir-fried chard, and potatoes. Simple and delicious.

Peeling black salsify can be a bit of a pain because of the sticky residue it leaves on every surface. I find that it is easiest to peel them under water, submerged in a big bowl.

After peeling, each piece goes straight into a bath of slightly salted water with a dash of vinegar. This prevents them from oxidizing.

Once the cooking water is boiling, they get rinsed and immediately cooked. When they are fully tender and slice easily, I drain them and then give them a turn in a hot pan with some butter and a dash of finishing salt. Perfectly tender inside and buttery on the outside.🍴

#growyourown #homestead #blacksalsify