Have you come across this strange-looking vegetable yet? It’s also known as a Chinese Artichoke (it grows wild in Northern China). The plant is a member of the mint family but the edible parts are the small creamy-coloured tubers. They were introduced in the late 19th century and named after the village where they were first introduced, Crosnes du Japon. I first saw crosnes on the Saturday market in St Junien and, at first sight, thought they were some sort of a grub! Then last week, I saw them in the covered market in Limoges and bought some to try. The stallholder told me to wash the crosnes by soaking them in water and then scrubbing gently with a vegetable brush, taking care to get all dirt and sand out of the nooks and crannies. She told me to steam them for about 3 minutes and then serve either hot or cold with a vinaigrette dressing or aioli. We opted for hot with aioli. They have a delicate taste which is a cross between celery and potatoe, quite nice. But they can also be eaten raw in salads, pickled or stir-fried.

Buy crosnes which are pale and firm (not rubbery). They can be kept in an open basket or in a container in the fridge where they’ll keep for about a week.