On Sat, 27 Aug 2005, Jim McKenney wrote:
> How is this related to the PBS list? Well, I've known for decades that
> various Amorphophallus were used as vegetables. But I have never seen a
> specific use mentioned. Cost seems to mention one; there is a Japanese
> preparation he mentions under the name shiratake. Here's what he says:
> "Other Japanese noodles include.shiratake ("white waterfall"), made from the
> starch of a plant called "devil's tongue"." Curiously, in this instance a
> scientific name is not given, and I'm assuming that the "devil's tongue" in
> question is Amorphophallus
>
> Does anyone else know of any specific culinary uses of these plants?
Jim,
Edible aroids is a topic that comes up regularly over on the aroid list - I'll
look back through the archives and see if I can come up with some details, but
my recollection is that both A. konjac and A. peonifolius are grown as food
crops for the starch in the tubers, which is added to a variety of things as a
filler and thickening agent.
Steve
-- Steve Marak
-- samarak@gizmoworks.com