Is yacon the same as sweet potato?
No, yacon and sweet potato are different plants. Although both plants have root tubers and are used as vegetables in the kitchen, they belong to different plant families and have different characteristics.
What can you do with yacon?
The root can be prepared and used in various ways. Here are some examples:
- Raw as a snack:Yacon can be eaten raw, similar to carrots or apples. To do this, the root is peeled and cut into thin slices or pieces. The slices have a crunchy texture and fresh taste. It can also be added to a salad to give it a sweet note.
- Baked or grilled: The tuber also tastes good baked or grilled and can be prepared in a similar way to potatoes or sweet potatoes. To do this, the root is cut into thin slices or pieces and marinated with oil and spices to taste. It is then baked or grilled in the oven or on the barbecue until it is soft and crispy.
- As a syrup or powder: The root vegetable can be processed into syrup or powder to serve as a natural sugar substitute. The syrup has a caramel-like flavor and can be used to sweeten tea, coffee or desserts. The powder can be used as an ingredient in smoothies, muesli or baked goods.
- In the food industry: Yacon extract and powder are also used in the food industry as a natural sweetener or fiber additive.
- In naturopathy: The South American vegetable is used in medicine due to its prebiotic fiber and its positive effects on blood sugar levels.
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Can yacon be eaten raw?
Yes, the root can be eaten raw. In fact, it is often consumed uncooked as a snack, as it has a refreshingly sweet and slightly tart taste has - similarly like a mixture of pear and melon.
To be able to eat the root vegetable, it only needs to be be thoroughly washed and peeledas the Hard and inedible shell is ready. It can then be cut into thin slices or pieces and eaten straight away. Alternatively, yacon can also be grated and used as an ingredient in salads or smoothies.
There are also many other ways to use yacon in the kitchen, such as as an ingredient for soups, stews or gratins, as a garnish for meat or fish dishes or as an ingredient for desserts and baked goods.
Why was yacon banned for a long time?
Yacon was in Europe banned until 2014/15 because it fell under the Novel Food Regulation. It regulates the sale and thus the consumption of foods that were only consumed in very small quantities in the EU until 1997. The necessary safety tests did not exist until 2014/15, which is why planting and sale were prohibited. The reason for the ban was therefore not health aspects, but the lack of approval under the Novel Food Regulation.
Once the trendy vegetable had also made a name for itself in Europe, the relevant tests were passed and the root could be purchased, cultivated and consumed.
Can yacon also be grown from seed?
Yacon seeds can also be purchased. The However, propagation usually takes place via root tubers or cuttingswhich you should use in spring. Although it is possible to grow yacon from seed, it is considered quite difficult.
