Oven-roast Jerusalem artichokes

Jerusalem artichokes are a stunning alternative to potatoes as the main carbohydrate with a dish or parsnips for a vegetable garnish.  They are super tasty but also pack a nutritional punch thanks to minerals such as iron, copper, magnesium and potassium. The latter is particularly interesting for us when looking at heart and circulatory health. The common thinking when trying to reduce blood pressure is to reduce sodium and while that helps, on its own it’s not enough as you need to increase your potassium levels at the same time, so foods high in potassium are a good choice.  They are also a great source of a carbohydrate called inulin. Now we don’t use that for energy metabolism, so they are a great food for diabetics as they don’t spike blood sugar. It’s also worth noting that inulin provides food for our gut bacteria, in particular a beneficial strain called bifidobacteria.

1. Pre-heat the oven to 180C/360F (fan) or 220C/430F (convection)
2. Chop into evenish cubes around 2.5cm/1 inch each
3. Place in a baking tray and drizzle with olive oil and a sprinkle of salt
4. Add crushed garlic and some herbs (rosemary or thyme are great)
5. Roast in the oven for 20-30 mins until crisp on the outside and soft inside