The Tudor Society

Supermarket brings back popular Tudor vegetable salsify

Further to my Claire Chats video talk on Tudor fruit and vegetables, I just had to share this news article which is completely coincidental - life is strange!

In my talk, I mentioned the popular medieval and Tudor root vegetable salsify, a vegetable which was consumed regularly in the UK up until the 19th century but which many Brits today have never heard of. Well, good news! The supermarket chain Waitrose is selling black salsify, grown in Cambridgeshire and Norfolk, and some white salsify, grown in Ayrshire, in 100 of its stores from now until the spring. So, if you're in the UK, do look out for it and please do let me know if you buy it and try it.

You can find out how to cook it and also find some recipes at https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/howto/guide/how-cook-salsify and https://albertbartlett.co.uk/rootveg/salsify.

Here's a video from chef Michel Roux:

Source: Salsify: Waitrose brings back 'forgotten' Victorian vegetable, The Guardian.

There are 9 comments Go To Comment

  1. R

    My local green groceries shop sells heritage carrots, small and normal size so I have brought some and they also had some sampshire. I am making a casserole tomorrow with some fresh mushrooms and some fresh local mince. I am also using fresh parsley and mint and pink ladies as a sauce, which are local apples. My salads these days are very interesting. I love trying new things.

    1. C - Post Author

      Do let us know how you get on cooking them. I love trying new things too.

      1. R

        Loved it and they didn’t harm Steve’s stoma as they were chopped up very small. With the potato pasta the meal was delicious.

        1. C - Post Author

          That’s good! I can’t get any of them here to try, but I love trying the different fruit and vegetables they have on offer here.

          1. J

            Tell me about it, I live in Australia!

          2. C - Post Author

            It’s frustrating, isn’t it?!

  2. C

    I had some purple carrots the other day. I caramelized them. They were really full of flavor, perhaps slightly less sweet than the orange ones.

    1. C - Post Author

      Ooooh, yum! Where did you get hold of them, Ceri?

  3. K

    Salsify is something I eat regularly here in Germany. You can buy it cooked, and in jars. I add it to a mushroom sause.

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Supermarket brings back popular Tudor vegetable salsify