The baked bitter roots are an easy recipe, a gratinated and flavorful side dish that highlights the intense, slightly bitter taste of this edible root. The portions of this vegetarian dish, as my husband says, can serve 4 or 6 people depending on your bravery to eat them. Jokes aside, we like these white roots. A nutrient-rich and healthy vegetable, considered a real medicine for its cleansing properties, also excellent for expelling intestinal gas without particular contraindications other than social ones. Discover its nutritional values here.
These roots come from the ancient village of Soncino, in the province of Cremona. They are now also famous as the Mairano De.co roots, a Brescia-area territory where cultivation has spread.
If you can’t find them in shops, you can buy the seeds online here.
SEASONALITY and period of the #radiciamare of Soncino: from October to March.
RECIPES with winter roots
- Difficulty: Easy
- Cost: Budget-friendly
- Preparation time: 10 Minutes
- Portions: 4 Servings
- Cooking methods: Oven
- Cuisine: Healthy
- Energy 202.13 (Kcal)
- Carbohydrates 18.39 (g) of which sugars 0.00 (g)
- Proteins 7.14 (g)
- Fat 11.94 (g) of which saturated 4.36 (g)of which unsaturated 1.78 (g)
- Fibers 0.00 (g)
- Sodium 446.09 (mg)
Indicative values for a portion of 140 g processed in an automated way starting from the nutritional information available on the CREA* and FoodData Central** databases. It is not food and / or nutritional advice.
* CREATES Food and Nutrition Research Center: https://www.crea.gov.it/alimenti-e-nutrizione https://www.alimentinutrizione.it ** U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service. FoodData Central, 2019. https://fdc.nal.usda.gov
Baked bitter roots
for a vegan version replace the cheese with nutritional yeast flakes
- 1 lb bitter roots
- to taste salt
- 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- 3/4 cup (about 2.5 oz) Parmigiano Reggiano PDO (Pecorino or another grated cheese)
Tools
- Bowl (for soaking)
- Pot (for boiling)
- Baking dish (for oven cooking)
Baked bitter roots
First of all wash the bitter roots (no need to peel) and slice them into rounds, immersing them as you go in a bowl full of water.
If you prefer to remove some of their bitterness, add lemon or white vinegar to the soaking and cooking water.
COOKING TIMES
Boil the white roots, choice of:
– in hot salted water (for about 8 minutes)
– or steamed in a pressure cooker (for about 3 minutes).
Once cooked al dente, season with one tablespoon of oil and grated cheese (use cheese without animal rennet for vegetarians).
Then place the boiled roots in a baking dish and cook in a preheated conventional oven at 356°F for about 12 minutes.
Serve the gratinated baked bitter roots hot.
Variations
Try baking the bitter roots in the oven, seasoned with mascarpone and gorgonzola thinned with a little milk.
