Yacon--no this is NOT a typo!

[not2late]

I was flipping through a seed catalog and saw an offer for the yacon. Yacon is a peruvian root veggie. I suppose it's similar to jicama in texture and taste. It is high in inulin, which helps to regulate blood sugar.

http://www.greenharvest.com.au/Plants/yacon_info.html
http://www.newcrops.uq.edu.au/newslett/ncnl1221.htm

Has anyone ever tried it? I'm trying to find the nutritional info on it too...

[Heidi3]

Re: Yacon--no this is NOT a typo!

I have never tried it but I have seen them in the Mercado and I thought it was a yam and left it..so now I am going to get one and try it!!!


I love new stuff....

I made a banana flower the other day ..and it was awful..I have to and ask again I can not believe it was supposed to taste like it did ...bitter and gross!

it was so cool to look at like little shop of horrors flower....

[not2late]

Re: Yacon--no this is NOT a typo!

Good. Try it the yacon and report back!

I've seen banana blossoms in one of my supermarkets. Never had tried it because the recipes I've seen for it are Filipino ones and the recipes seem complex.

[2big4mysize]

Re: Yacon--no this is NOT a typo!

good luck finding a real nutritionasl value for that stuff as most sites say high water and FOS so no real cals. it is low fat low protein

[Heidi3]

Re: Yacon--no this is NOT a typo!

hmmmmm ok I will try it ....is this a set up ...if Heidi eats it and lives then we will try it?

well my friend that runs a Cambodian market in Tacoma said to just "cut it up and make a salad" about the banana flour..then I saw a recipe to roast it..so I roasted it ...it was so bitter...my husband who is so good about taking a bite of anything new...also tried it ...just in case it was me ....and both of us after three bites said it was so bitter we were done....I will ask her how to cut it up and how to make the salad and try the banana flower agaiin ..but for now ..my report on this one ..was yuk

tomorrow I am going shopping and will see if they have Yacon if you do not hear from me again ....well you know

[MotherOfGizmo]

Re: Yacon--no this is NOT a typo!

I've never heard of it, nor have I seen it. It looks interesting though! If anyone does try it please let us know what you think!

[Heidi3]

Re: Yacon--no this is NOT a typo!

that is ok Mog like Mikey they are all "Let Heidi try it she'll eat anything"
I am going to look for one today

[Heidi3]

Re: Yacon--no this is NOT a typo!

Ok on my travels today I bought

1 fresh juicy jicama
2 lbs of beautiful tomatillos
1 bunch of awesome smelling cilantro
2 packages of agar agar
a nice fresh chicken
some queso fresco
oaxaca cheese
got three new recipes that I have to translate
and no YACON....but my journey has just begun!!!!! will find and cook a Yacon...my friend at el Mercado said she would talk to her Peruvian customers and see what to do with it ..she is on a missiion too now ...we did find a rainbow yam it had only 18 carbs for an entire yam but it was frozen and really old she would not sell it to me and tossed it...

[not2late]

Re: Yacon--no this is NOT a typo!

Maybe the Department of Agriculture will have nutritional info on it??? I've read various stuff on various sites and it sounds kind of shady...Anyhow, if I find a yacon, I'll buy one and report back.

Oh, Heidi, I e-mailed a Filipino friend about that banana blossom. you have to peel the outer petals off until you get to the white colored petals---that's the edible portion. She said all the red petals aren't edible.