© June Low
Ironically, the vegetable's name has nothing to do with holy Jerusalem. In fact, it belongs to the sunflower family and was derived from the Italian word "girasole" meaning sunflower. Perhaps over centuries cultivators have been mispronouncing the name and finally today we have Jerusalem Artichokes. Due to its intensive sweet-hued flavor, they are normally never eaten alone, but rather accompany diverse types of foods, particularly cured game meats. They actually go well with anything salty or savoury and make for delicious soups. The season of Jerusalem Artichokes begins in September and ends in March.
