POWER PLANT | burdock Stuck on you Burdock is more than just an annoy<strong>in</strong>g burr that catches on your clothes. It’s also a medic<strong>in</strong>al herb, tonic and food Words Jennifer Stackhouse If you have English heritage, or devoured UK adventure stories as a kid, the word burdock may lead you to recall an oldfashioned soft dr<strong>in</strong>k known as dandelion and burdock. If your background is Asian, you’ll know burdock as gobo, an edible herb. Whatever your upbr<strong>in</strong>g<strong>in</strong>g, burdock or gobo (Arctium lappa) is a vigorous, weedy plant that’s nutritious and used for its medic<strong>in</strong>al properties. It’s part of the daisy family (Asteraceae) and grows readily from seed, which is planted <strong>in</strong> spr<strong>in</strong>g or autumn. Burdock is a biennial, mean<strong>in</strong>g it cont<strong>in</strong>ues to grow for more than a year. If left to grow to maturity, it reaches 1–2m high and 1m wide and produces tufty purple thistle-like flowers on top of a round, spiky capsule that turns <strong>in</strong>to a large, prickly and very cl<strong>in</strong>gy burr. (Its prickle was the <strong>in</strong>spiration for the <strong>in</strong>vention of Velcro.) To avoid a weedy problem, harvest the plants well before the flowers appear. Burdock has large, heart-shaped and slightly furry leaves that can be harvested young to add to salads or cooked like sp<strong>in</strong>ach. It’s the roots that are the ma<strong>in</strong> harvest, however, and these are at their best <strong>in</strong> spr<strong>in</strong>g and autumn when they’re long (up to 60cm) and slender. Such deep roots need to be dug carefully from the soil so they don’t break. Edible roots The roots are brown to almost black on the outside, but beneath the sk<strong>in</strong> is white flesh. Young roots can be peeled and chopped to add to salads but mature roots are best cooked as a roast or stirfry. They’re also used <strong>in</strong> the Japanese vegetable dish k<strong>in</strong>pira gobo (see recipe). The roots can also be pickled or, better still, used <strong>in</strong> comb<strong>in</strong>ation with dandelion roots to make burdock and dandelion cordial or burdock and dandelion beer. Medic<strong>in</strong>al properties Burdock has long been celebrated <strong>in</strong> herbal medic<strong>in</strong>e — both Western and traditional Ch<strong>in</strong>ese — for its anti-<strong>in</strong>flammatory and antibacterial properties. Recent studies also reveal it conta<strong>in</strong>s powerful antioxidants. As a deep-rooted plant, it’s able to m<strong>in</strong>e nutrients from the soil that may not be available to smaller plants. Warn<strong>in</strong>g Make sure you correctly identify burdock before us<strong>in</strong>g any part of it. Grow<strong>in</strong>g your own from seed is a safe way to produce this fasc<strong>in</strong>at<strong>in</strong>g edible weed. Seeds are available from Green Harvest greenharvest.com.au. K<strong>in</strong>pira Gobo (Braised Carrot & Burdock Root) Serves: 3–4 as side dish 1 burdock root, peeled & julienned ⅓ carrot, julienned Coconut oil, for fry<strong>in</strong>g 1 tbsp sesame oil 1 tbsp roasted white sesame seeds Ichimi togarashi (red pepper flakes — optional) Ito togarashi (dried chilli strands — optional) Season<strong>in</strong>gs ¾ cup dashi (use kombu dashi for vegetarians) 2 tbsp sake 1 tbsp sugar 1 tbsp mir<strong>in</strong> 1½ tbsp soy sauce Soak burdock <strong>in</strong> water or v<strong>in</strong>egar water (just one drop of v<strong>in</strong>egar would do). Change the water a couple of times until it becomes clean, then leave burdock <strong>in</strong> the water until ready to stirfry. In a fry<strong>in</strong>g pan, heat oil over a medium– high flame and stirfry burdock. Add carrot for a few m<strong>in</strong>utes. Add season<strong>in</strong>gs and cook until most of the liquid evaporates. When liquid is almost gone, add sesame oil and spr<strong>in</strong>kle sesame seeds and ichimi togarashi and/or ito togarashi if us<strong>in</strong>g. Recipe adapted from one by Namiko Chen, justonecookbook.com Burdock label Common name: Burdock, gobo Botanical name: Arctium lappa Family: Asteraceae (daisy family) Group: Biennial Requires: Sun to part shade; constant moisture Dislikes: Dry conditions Suitable for: Herb gardens, vegetable gardens, conta<strong>in</strong>ers Habit: Rosette-form<strong>in</strong>g herb Needs: Warmth Propagation: Seed Difficulty: Easy CanStockPhoto 22 | <strong>Good</strong> <strong>Organic</strong> <strong>Garden<strong>in</strong>g</strong>
DUNEIRA MT MACEDON Historic house and garden just 50 m<strong>in</strong>utes from Melbourne We welcome private Tour Groups. Cater<strong>in</strong>g by arrangement. Spr<strong>in</strong>g Garden Events 2, 6, 13, 20, 27, 30 <strong>October</strong>; 3, 10, 17, 20, 24 November; 1, 8, 15, 17 December : 30 <strong>October</strong> : 30 <strong>October</strong>, 20 November : 6 November Open Gardens: 6, 20 November Visit Duneira Book<strong>in</strong>gs essential 03 5426 1490 www.duneira.com.au
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