Sunchoke Salad With Apples and Kumquats

You know those strange little traditions that everyone has? Like “Fruit Salad Sundays!” or treating themselves to a coffee when they go to the bookstore? Well, my mother and I have a tradition like that. Every time we go to the grocery store, we try to find one fruit or vegetable that we have never tried. They are often in that “strange, exotic foods” section where rambutans, and gooseberries, and dragon fruit. To be fair, at this point in my life, I’ve tried most of the produce that pops up in that section. But the other day, I saw something that I had never tried. Never even thought about trying! What the hell were sunchokes? These little tubers looked remarkably like gigantic tamarind-potato babies. To be honest, I didn’t know what to make of them…. So, into the cart they went.

Sunchokes are truly one of those ‘diamond in the rough’ kinds of foods. Also known as Jerusalem Artichokes, these tubers are part of the sunflower family. When I initially started researching these funny looking roots, I came across a description that said they would taste very similar to water chestnuts when eaten raw. No offense to that person, but I call bullshit! Far from a water chestnut, they taste more like yucca. They have a starchy texture and an earthy skin, that makes them perfect for a sweet salad. But, despite the false advertising of the taste, I have deep trust in their health benefits.

Sunchokes contain an absurd amount of dietary fiber. Specifically, these funny little tubers contain inulin, which supports and stimulates the growth of bifidobacteria. A long and foreign word, I know… Bifidobacteria are naturally occurring in the large intestine. They act as tiny little security guards, fighting off the bad bacteria can cause ailments such as SIBO and indigestion. Because of the stimulation of this bacteria, sunchokes help to prevent constipation and stimulate the bowel, just like Asian pears! Both of these foods have also been shown to lower blood pressure. Asian pears and kumquats on the other hand, boast an insane amount of Vitamin C. In fact, eating just five kumquats provides you with 78% of your daily recommended amount. Now that is insane!

Dietary fiber, Vitamin C, and the lowering of blood sugar are just a few of the health benefits of the ingredients in this salad. A quick and easy, throw together meal, it is filling, tasty, and gorgeous to behold. Now, my trips to the “weirdo Food Section” of the grocery store have sometimes resulted in some strange buys, that I frankly, couldn’t stomach. However, this was not one of those times. I will definitely be buying sunchokes again!

RAW VEGAN RECIPE: Sunchokes Salad with Apples and Kumquats

2 cups sunchokes, washed thoroughly, thinly sliced

1 apple, thinly sliced

1 Asian pear, thinly sliced

½ cup kumquats, thinly sliced

FOR THE DRESSING:

1 lemon, juiced

1 Tbsp maple syrup

2 Tbsp raw, unfiltered apple cider vinegar

2 Tbsp Extra Virgin Olive Oil

Pink Himalayan sea salt and black pepper to taste

Core the apple and pear. Thinly slice the sunchokes, apples, pear, and kumquats and mix in a bowl. Be sure to discard the seeds of the kumquats. In a second, small bowl, juice the lemon, discarding the seeds. Whisk in the olive oil, apple cider vinegar, and maple syrup until the mixture is thoroughly combined. Pour the dressing over the salad mixture and toss until each fruit slice is sufficiently coated. Season with salt and pepper, and toss. This recipe serves 2. So, grab a friend and enjoy! Or, set aside a second portion for later. The firmness of the sunchokes and fruits makes this a great salad for later, and the lemon juice keeps the apples from browning, so it will stay, not only delicious, but pretty as well!