Question
What is the difference between artichoke hearts and Jerusalem artichokes? Which do I use to make soup?
Answer
Artichoke hearts come from the globe artichoke, which is a big thistle plant native to the Mediterranean. Once you have cooked them, you can eat both the tender part of the leaves and the heart.
While you can make soup from globe artichoke hearts, it is more commonly in Australia to make from Jerusalem artichokes. These are actually a variety of sunflower with a lumpy, brown-skinned tuber that looks a bit like gingerroot. The name comes from the Italian word for sunflower, girasole. They have nutty, sweet flesh, can be used raw or cooked and are a seasonal winter vegetable.
Pics: James Moffatt/bauersyndication.com.au
