How to Cook with Burdock Root

Introduction

I was food shopping today at my local health food store and I noticed they had burdock root for sale in the produce section. In addition to being a valued medicine, Burdock root is a traditional food staple in many cultures.

In Japan, it is peeled and sliced and used in stir fries. To the Native Americans, particularly the Iriquois, it was a staple food item during the winter. It is also used in countries like China and India, both for food and medicine.

What follows are the steps on how to prepare burdock root for cooking. Visit the websites provided for some recipes and more information on what the plant looks like. You can use the fresh root in soups, stews, and stir fries. It is particularly delicious stir fried with other vegetables and served with brown rice. Read on to learn more.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Things You'll Need

• Two year old burdock plants (Arctium lappa)
• A trowel or larger shovel
• Work gloves
• Water
• Peeler
• Sharp kitchen knife

Steps

1

Step One

Locate a burdock plant that is two years old. If you plant it yourself, wait two years before digging up the root.

2

Step Two

Wait until the fall, and then dig around the plant using a trowel or shovel, being careful not to damage the roots.

3

Step Three

Pull the plant up by its roots and shake out the excess dirt. Make sure there are other burdock plants in the area before you dig it out, unless you cultivated the plant yourself.

4

Step Four

After all the dirt is shaken out, cut the roots away from the rest of the plant. Place the plant clippings in your compost pile and reserve the root.

5

Step Five

Thoroughly scrub all of the dirt off the roots using cold water and a produce brush. Make sure all the dirt is removed. Let the roots dry slightly.

6

Step Six

Once the roots are dry, you may peel them. At this point, you can chop them and either save them for future use (dry them on paper towels) or add them to your favorite recipes.

Tips & Warnings

• To search for recipes on the internet try typing in "cooking with burdock root", "recipes with burdock root" or "burdock root recipes."
• Be careful that you correctly identify the plant.
• Talk to your doctor before trying anything new.