FoodFood InformationVegetablesRoot Vegetables
Salsify is a rather unattractive root vegetable that resembles a verylong, very thin parsnip. By the fullest stretch of the imagination, theflavor of salsify is supposed to be similar to that of oysters.
If we were to tally the least-used vegetable, salsify would come close tothe head of the list. Before World War II, salsify was a fairly common sightin many produce markets. It was usually available early in fall and throughoutthe winter. Even though it was rather modest in cost, it didn't sell toowell because of the length of time it took to prepare it properly. Possiblythe biggest damper on its sale was the complaint that if rubber gloves weren'tused in its preparation, the hands of the cook would be badly stained. Untilabout 1975, salsify was all but extinct. Although not available in producestores, some was grown in home gardens. Today, salsify is making a slightcomeback. Occasionally it is found in some in some gourmet fruit shops andin the more posh supermarkets. Some is imported from Belgium and Holland.It now carries a lofty price tag.
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