Posted by: Blast
Blast thought he had a good idea. - 12/28/10 10:39 PM
This morning I dug up approximately thirty pounds of greenbriar tubers...all from the same plant.
GreenbriarTuber2 by merriwether, on Flickr
I've been wanting to try preparing them as the Native Americana's did, both slow-roasting and starch removal. The N.A.'s would bury them under a large fire and bake them for three days. At this point the starch was converted to sugars which they would then chew and suck off the fibrous tuber body. I didn't have enough wood for a 3-day bonfire, but I did have a microwave...
Greenbriar tubers are very much like very fibrous potatoes and so I figured I treat it like I was baking a really big potato in the microwave. Considering the size of the tuber, 15 minutes at full power seemed like a reasonable setting. Everything seemed to be going well until around minute 12.
WHOOMP!! Suddenly the greenbriar burst into huge, leaping flames. I reacted in a split second, diving for my camera to take pictures of the burning microwave, then that annoy "reason" part of the brain kicked in and made me grab the fire extinguisher instead. A quick blast of yellow powder and the fire was out.
Of course the kitchen was filled with thick smoke. Luckily the DW and DDs weren't home so I was able to open all the doors and windows...and wash down the whole kitchen.
Surprisingly, burning greenbriar tuber smells a lot like caramel plus dark roast coffee.
When DW got home her face lite up as she walked in the door. "Someone's been cooking something yummmy! Is there any left for us?" she said and raced to the kitchen...and saw the microwave. It cleaned up pretty well but I think some of the scorch marks will be permanent. After giving her the whole story she just shook her head and sighed, "We don't have these problems when you're at work."
This started out about the size of a nice acorn squash.
Burned by merriwether, on Flickr
-Blast, who still has six more days of vacation
GreenbriarTuber2 by merriwether, on Flickr
I've been wanting to try preparing them as the Native Americana's did, both slow-roasting and starch removal. The N.A.'s would bury them under a large fire and bake them for three days. At this point the starch was converted to sugars which they would then chew and suck off the fibrous tuber body. I didn't have enough wood for a 3-day bonfire, but I did have a microwave...
Greenbriar tubers are very much like very fibrous potatoes and so I figured I treat it like I was baking a really big potato in the microwave. Considering the size of the tuber, 15 minutes at full power seemed like a reasonable setting. Everything seemed to be going well until around minute 12.
WHOOMP!! Suddenly the greenbriar burst into huge, leaping flames. I reacted in a split second, diving for my camera to take pictures of the burning microwave, then that annoy "reason" part of the brain kicked in and made me grab the fire extinguisher instead. A quick blast of yellow powder and the fire was out.
Of course the kitchen was filled with thick smoke. Luckily the DW and DDs weren't home so I was able to open all the doors and windows...and wash down the whole kitchen.
Surprisingly, burning greenbriar tuber smells a lot like caramel plus dark roast coffee.
When DW got home her face lite up as she walked in the door. "Someone's been cooking something yummmy! Is there any left for us?" she said and raced to the kitchen...and saw the microwave. It cleaned up pretty well but I think some of the scorch marks will be permanent. After giving her the whole story she just shook her head and sighed, "We don't have these problems when you're at work."
This started out about the size of a nice acorn squash.
Burned by merriwether, on Flickr
-Blast, who still has six more days of vacation
