Topic: Cardoons

[cleo]

I have grown them for years-lovely tall decorative plants. But has anyone eaten them? I must admit to being lazy and all that blanching seems a bit much. Am I missing out?

[GRACELAND]

Snap i have just started to grow them this year as a all decorative plant
 So would be interested in knowing more

[Bugloss2009]

there are videos on youtube on how to prepare them. The old bloke on "Victorian Kitchen Garden" also prepared one I remember. Seemed like too much fuss

[cleo]

The old bloke on "Victorian Kitchen Garden"

Old bloke??-shame on you. That was Harry Dodson-one of the finest gardeners and all round gentleman it has been my privelige to meet and talk to.

What Harry had forgotten in his later years was more than I have ever had=old bloke indeed.

[Squash64]

Yes, but I think they are an acquired taste.  (Husband is Italian, that might explain it  ;))

I don't blanche them though, but cut the stems and trim off all the green bits so they look like sticks of celery.  Wash and cut into pieces about 2 - 3 inches long and steam till tender.  Then dip in egg and seasoned flour and fry in olive oil.  (if you don't 'do' fried things, then they can be eaten just steamed)

We only pick them in the early part of the season, before the flowers appear, they get tough afterwards.  You might have missed out for this year.

[Bugloss2009]

The old bloke on "Victorian Kitchen Garden"

Old bloke??-shame on you. That was Harry Dodson-one of the finest gardeners and all round gentleman it has been my privelige to meet and talk to.

What Harry had forgotten in his later years was more than I have ever had=old bloke indeed.

yes, I knew what his name was, I was just being off the top of my head conversational

[cleo]

No offence given and none taken?

Harry was something special though-10 minutes of him showing how to do things were worth years of trial and error. He was exactly how he comes over in the tv series-unassuming but confident in his ways that had served him from journeyman to head gardene

[Bugloss2009]

well I was giving him the respect of remembering something he did for 5 minutes My God 23 years ago. How can that be right? I'm gobsmacked. 23 years

[GRACELAND]

ok back to cardoons now  ;D ;D ;D ;D