Horseradish, a root vegetable with a pungent taste. What else should you know?

Horseradish, a root vegetable known for its pungent taste and smell.

Is it only used to flavor food? Or is horseradish also beneficial for our health?

You will learn all this in the following article!

Horseradish, a root vegetable with a strong aroma

Horseradish, Latin Armoracia rusticana. It has been used around the world for millennia. It probably comes from Southeastern Europe.

It grows to a height of 1.5 m. Its leaves are up to 1 m long. It is grown mainly for its long, white root, which grows up to 25 cm.

Intact horseradish root has a faint aroma, but if grated or cut, it releases enzymes that irritate the eyes and sinuses. The aroma and flavor of horseradish comes from the glycoside sinigrin.

How to use horseradish? This root vegetable is mainly used as a spice, but also for medicinal purposes.

Why consume horseradish?

Horseradish will give your dishes a twist. Freshly grated horseradish root contains more vitamin C than most common fruits, including oranges.

The root is rich in calcium, potassium and protein. Compared to potatoes, it is 20 times richer in calcium and contains almost four times more vitamin C.

It has antibacterial and stimulating properties, helps against flatulence.

Eating horseradish can relieve arthritis, gout, or urinary tract infections.

If you consume a large amount, irritation of the mouth or stomach may occur. Therefore, it is not recommended for people who have thyroid problems.

Horseradish and health

Is horseradish healthy? Definitely yes! It is often used in alternative medicine.

Horseradish contains glucosinolates and isothiocyanates, which may protect against cancer, fight bacterial and fungal infections, and improve respiratory problems.

If you have a sore throat, it is good to gargle a mixture of horseradish and honey.

Horseradish leaves help heal burns or cuts.

Nutritional values

Horseradish is low in calories and high in vitamin C. It also offers other minerals and vitamins:

Types of horseradish

Among the most used are two types of horseradish:

Horseradish

It has wrinkled, broad leaves that are rounded just above where they join the plant stem.

Despite the high quality of the root, it is used for home cultivation, as commercial growers prefer other varieties.

Czech horseradish

A type of horseradish bred in the Czech Republic. It is quite resistant to diseases.

It has more massive roots than other species and smooth leaves.

Growing horseradish

The best time to plant horseradish is spring. Horseradish is a very hardy perennial that requires a long growing season, so you can harvest it only in autumn.

Plant the horseradish in a place where it will have enough sunlight. Soil preparation is also important. Clean it of roots and stones so that the horseradish root can thrive. The soil should be moist and fertile.

Plant the horseradish seedlings about 45cm apart. Add fertilizer to the planted horseradish.

Horseradish processing

Horseradish is tastiest when freshly grated. It is added to cooked dishes at the end of cooking because the heat removes its aroma.

You can use horseradish with meat and vegetable dishes. The horseradish sauce is also delicious. Get inspired by several recipes for healthy sauces with horseradish .

Grated horseradish is well-known in gastronomy. What will you need to make it?

• horseradish root
• vinegar
• salt
• vegetable peeler
• knife
• food processor or blender
• glass container

Procedure :

1. Peel the horseradish root.
2. Crush it in a blender into small pieces. The smaller the pieces, the sharper the horseradish will be.
3. Add vinegar and salt to your taste to the ground root. If you add more vinegar, the grated horseradish will be hotter.
4. Fill the glasses with the finished mixture.

Grated horseradish can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 6 weeks.

What is the difference between fresh and grated horseradish? Fresh horseradish is sharper than grated. This is because you can influence the pungency of grated horseradish with vinegar.

Horseradish products

Bloody Mary cocktail – it also includes a pinch of horseradish, which gives it a sharper taste.

Horseradish spread – made from cheese, mayonnaise, horseradish and other ingredients.

Attractions

A horseradish-like plant

Horseradish is often confused with wasabi (Japanese horseradish). But wasabi is not a variety of horseradish. Both have a pungent and sharp taste, wasabi is slightly sweeter.

However, growing wasabi is more complicated, which is why horseradish is a more popular alternative.

You should definitely include horseradish in your diet if you are suffering from a cold, but also if you want to strengthen your immunity. The high content of vitamin C, calcium will benefit your health.