Page 39 - Simply Veg 3.21

daily copies), you can plant it! Its pages are indeed a mixture of recycled paper, water and tiny flowers or herb seeds.
All year-round Japanese vegetable gardens are in use and packed with goodies to eat. They plant carrots, garlic, onion, and radish to sit under the snow during winter. Spring time is filled with a myriad of greens, summer is time to get all the staple foods taken care of, and fall brings fruits and a new round of greens. Japanese staple crops which are similar to anywhere in the world with tomato, potato, and onions leading
the way but I did find some weird/cool vegetables to share with you.
Okinawan Purple Sweet Potato
Okinawan purple sweet potatoes are also called Japanese sweet potatoes and the flesh of the potato is an appealing shade of purple. They tend to be drier and denser than normal sweet potatoes, and they are best cooked for longer than normal sweet potatoes.
Their taste is similar to normal sweet potatoes, although they can taste a little richer and more ‘winey’. They are great for adding colour to dishes, and are cooked the same was as other varieties of sweet potato.
Red perilla
Red perilla is a Japanese herb known for its aromatic leaves. It also has a long history
of being used in traditional medicine and as part of tea, although it is now used in many modern Japanese dishes.
The herb is especially useful as a seasoning for a wide range of foods and is often used in the place of basil for cooking. The physical appearance of the herb also makes it popular as an ornamental plant, especially as it has a nice smell and is easy to grow.
Daikon radish
Daikon radish is a mild-tasting white radish that is relatively low in calories and high in some nutrients. Some claim that the radish
Red Perilla (Shiso)
Japanese Artichokes
is a superfood and can help to improve health.
Regardless of whether this is accurate or not, daikon radish is a good addition to a number of meals,
and can be eaten raw or
cooked, depending on your
preference. In cooking,
daikon radishes can be used
in most recipes that call for
turnips.
Typically, the smaller radishes are best for raw eating, while the larger ones should be cooked, as the taste can change with size.
Japanese Artichokes
Japanese Artichokes are most often pickled and may be served as part of traditional dishes. The tubers can also be cooked in
other ways, such as sautéing in butter or boiling in stock, and can also be eaten raw.
The taste of the tubers is similar to other types of artichoke, although they do also
In cooking, daikon radishes can be used is most recipes that call for turnips
have a little bit of a nutty sweetness as well. The vegetable can be challenging to find, as harvesting it is labour-intensive and the vegetable does not keep for long.
I hope you enjoyed this tour to a Japanese vegetable garden; I cannot wait to visit Japan when it’s safe to do so
and try out some of these new veggies and incorporate a few new ideas when it comes time to construct my very own Japanese inspired vegetable garden.
Daikon radish
Okinawan Purple Sweet Potato
Simply Vegetables 39