Stir Fried Burdock Root

My Stir-Fried Burdock Root is my take on the popular traditional Japanese dish called Kinpira Gobo. it is often seen in bento boxes. I served as a side dish along with Teriyaki Tofu and Vegan Sushi.

Stir-Fried Burdock Root

My love for burdock root started years ago when I lived in Virginia, the plant with its broad leaves and beautiful purple flowers was always a beautiful addition to our garden. I remembered that our dog would end up playing in the plant and would have the dried flower heads stuck all over his fur. 

We dug the root and used it to make teas and cook the root as a vegetable. When we moved to Ohio we took a root with us and grew it there. Unfortunately, we did the same when we moved here to Florida but it died. The soil’s ph was just not conducive for its growth.

I was happy to find gobo (burdock root) in an Asian supermarket in Huntsville Alabama recently. I decided to share my favorite way of preparing it. If you can’t find fresh gobo, then frozen gobo cut into matchstick sizes are also sold in the Asian supermarkets. 

What Is Burdock Root?

 Burdock root is a vegetable that grows in the USA but originated from Europe and Asia. The plant is usually seen growing in the wild in parks, fields, and along the roadside here in the USA.

The delicious root is popular in Asian cuisines. The leaves are large in diameter and the purple flowers heads are globular. When the flower heads dry, they stick to the clothes, hence it is also called. ‘Burrdock’. 

The root is long and thin, it is usually sold with the dirt on it, this is meant to keep it fresh longer and they intended for you to cook it with the skin intact so you can get the nutritional benefits of the skin.

When cooked, the root has a unique flavor, it is naturally sweet, with a stringy flesh. I wash the root with a dish pad under cold running water to remove the dirt. 

Traditional recipes use mirin and or sake which is a Japanese cooking wine, I omitted both and use lime juice. 

Burdock root is popularly used in herbal medicine.  Studies show that burdock root:

• Removes toxins from the blood. See here.
• Improved digestion. See here.
• Slows down the growth of tumors. See here.

Ingredients For Stir-Fried Burdock Root

• Burdock
• Carrot
• Sesame Oil
• Coconut Sugar
• Lime Juice
• Bragg’s Liquid Aminos
• Sesame Seeds 

How To Prepare Stir-Fried Burdock Root?

1. Scrub burdock root and carrots, cut into matchsticks.
2. Transfer burdock and carrot matchsticks into a bowl of cold water with lemon juice and set aside. You can soak for an hour. 

1. Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. 
2. Add gobo and carrots and cook stirring for about  2 minutes. 
3. Add coconut sugar, lime juice, Bragg’s Liquid Aminos, and continue to cook stirring. 
4. Check gobo to see if it is tender, if not add vegetable broth starting with 1/4 cup and cover the skillet to cook until gobo is tender.
5. Check for doneness and add the other 1/4 cup if the gobo is still too crunchy.
6. Sprinkle with sesame seeds and serve.
7. Store leftover in the refrigerator for  2-3 days.

Other Amazing Vegetables To Prepare:

• Baked Jicama Fries
• Stir-Fried Lotus Root
• Sauteed Chayote And Carrots
• Jamaican Bok Choy Recipe
• Steamed Chaya Spinach Tree
• Jamaican Steamed Cabbage
• Sauteed Radish And Radish Greens

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