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Roasted black salsify with caper and chives is a simple vegan side dish.
Winter is all about root veggies and this makes me so happy! Salsify is one of those rare and weird root vegetables which can be easily hated by so many people. I believe it’s because of the blend and boring preparations. But with a little bit of love, lemon juice, chives and caper salsify can be an extremely delicious and satisfying side dish, salad or snack.
Salsify? What the f*ck is that again?
Black salsify or scorzonera hispanica is a lesser known superfood, a winter root vegetable. It’s an ugly brown stick, which can be used in various dishes. Salsify can be cooked, roasted, sautéed, fried, puréed, you name it. It tastes like something between a white asparagus and a parsnip. I would argue with this one, but the internet says it tastes like oyster. Salsify is high in iron, copper, calcium, vitamin A, C and E, helps you with your digestion, keeps your hair healthy, prevents cancer, heart diseases and many more.
I had never heard of salsify before I moved to Germany, but apparently it’s a very popular thing here. You can buy fresh or canned salsify in basically every supermarket this time of the year. Cooking magazines and sites are also filled with recipes. It is popular to use black salsify as “poor people’s asparagus”, so they serve it with hollandaise sauce or gravy or often cook it as a cream soup. It’s a long story, but I am skeptic first about every vegetable they sell in jars in Germany. Yes, I hated kale when I moved here (I still don’t like the canned version), it’s so hard to believe it now. However at the end I realised they are all fantastic little vegetables and now I love them. Of course!
Black Salsify with Caper and Chives
- Total Time: 40 mins
- Yield: 2-4 1x
Ingredients
- 1 kg/2.2 lbs salsify roots
- 1 tsp olive oil
- 1 lemon, juice + zest
- 1 tbsp chopped chives
- 2 tbsp caper
- salt, pepper
Instructions
- Fill a large pot with water and add lemon juice.
- Wash and peel salsify, and cut them into 5 cm/2inch. Place immediately in lemon water.
- Cook them in lemon water for 10 minutes, then drain them.
- Mix them together with olive oil, salt and pepper and arrange on a baking sheet in a single layer.
- Bake for about 20 minutes at 200°C/400°F or until golden brown. Stir salsify pieces halfway through baking time.
- Sprinkle with lemon zest, freshly chopped chives, caper and black pepper. Serve warm. Enjoy!
Notes
I would recommend you washing and peeling salsify roots under running water. This will help you keep your hands from getting sticky from the sap (see picture above).
- Prep Time: 10 mins
- Cook Time: 30 mins
- Category: Side
- Cuisine: Vegan
Just when I thought I knew them all!!! OMG! I need some salsify!!!
Hahaha, I feel the same every time I see what flours you are using in your recipes 🙂
Very interesting. I’ve never heard of it. I wonder if you can buy it in US grocery stores.
I read that they often sell them in farmers markets…but let me know if you find any 😉
I’m glad you had that “what’s salsify?” section 🙂 I was wondering if it was something like burdock, etc. Learned something new!
Oh, you see?! I have never heard of burdock!
Hehe. We have so much burdock growing all around the forest here. It’s a great root veggie with lots of health benefits, and it stews really nicely. But the plant is massive and has annoying sticky prickly seeds that get clumped into my dogs’ fur and is a pain to remove — so I have a reason to have a slight dislike for the plant… 😉
Ok, then I know what’s a burdock. A very annoying thing when you have a dog 😀
But I didn’t know you can eat it, I really have to try it. Thanks!
I love hearing about new vegetables or ingredients! Have never heard of this either… oyster flavour sounds a bit unappealing and it’s hard to imagine how a root vegetable could taste like oysters anyway haha! This looks fantastic! x
Thank you, Hannah!
I have no idea how oysters taste, but I imagine something seafood style and it definitely doesn’t taste like that, so don’t worry 😉
ha, i’d never seen salsify before I moved to Germany either!
It is so lovely to discover new veggies in a new country 🙂
I have neverhad salsify either but love root vegetables, so now I am very interested in trying these. The dish sounds wonderful 🙂 and the pictures are spot on as usual 😉
Thank you so much! ?
I think you would like it a lot.
I have also only heard of salsify after moving to Germany and it was love at first taste. 🙂 I make it a couple of times every winter, mostly with a white wine sauce and potatoes. Your version sounds great as well, I will keep it in mind for the next time.
Oh, that sounds delicious! My boyfriend said he eats salsify with potatoes and some kind of sauce, so I have to make that version soonish too 🙂
I learn something new everyday! I’ve never hear of salsify, but I love root veggies. I’m intrigued!
I am sure if you like root veggies you would like this one too!
Hi Evi,
you live in Germany, I know. But do you have any idea where to buy salsify in Canada?
This recipe looks beautiful and I would like to try it. Your avocado pasta was delicious, too.
Thank you a lot.
Hi Linda,
So nice to hear you liked the avocado pasta.
I am not sure about where to buy salsify in Canada, but I read you can find sometimes at farmers market. It is just in season! I know that you can also order canned version for example from Amazon. I haven’t tried that, so I am not sure if it tastes good.
I hope you will find salsify, let me know if you do 🙂
Wow! This is so cool! I’ve never heard of salsify… but I love learning about new (or new to me!) superfoods! You’re dish looks delicious. Perf for a chilly winter night 🙂
Thanks, Cailee!
I’ve heard of salsify before but I’ve never cooked with it! Going to keep an eye out for it when I go to the market this weekend so I can whip this up!
You should definitely try it 🙂
Best line ever: “Salsify? What the f*ck is that again?” LOL. Gurl, I’m not even gonna lie, I have never heard of salsify. I was gonna go ahead and google that shiz before I scrolled down further and saw that you conveniently explained it to us. 🙂 Love that you made this veggie look like a combo of pasta and french fries. Like, who doesn’t want to eat that? 😉 I am feeling the capers and chives, so this recipe is right up my alley. Can’t wait for you to introduce us to more veggies! Hope you have an awesome weekend friend. 🙂 Pinning!
Yes, that was really my first question 😀
Interestingly it’s a super popular thing here, you can get them fresh or in jar basically in every supermarket, it’s basically like potatoes for Germans. And I have never even seen it before!
There are still a few crazy veggies I didn’t dare to touch yet, but I’m gathering all my strength and gonna try once all of them 😀