This Mediterranean beauty is as black as night and tasty as sweet radish. She is a relative of an orange carrot and at the same time differs from her in both taste and color. Meet the black carrot - the queen of the fields of Turkey, Pakistan and Egypt!
Table of Contents
- What is black carrot?
- Species and varieties of the plant
- Benefits and harms of the root
- Medicinal properties
- Cooking applications
- Conclusion
What is black carrot?
Scorzonera, which is the correct name for the black root vegetable, is not a new variety of regular carrots. This crop was grown in the eastern Mediterranean as far back as the 16th century for medicinal and culinary purposes. Today it can be found in many eastern countries. In Russia, gardeners practically do not grow it, perhaps, simply because of the lack of information about proper cultivation.
Black carrot close-up Stems Scoronery dark green, up to 70 cm tall, leaves - ovate or lanceolate. Inflorescences appear in May, they have a bright yellow shade and exude a pleasant smell of vanilla. Cylindrical root outside the black color, inside it is white, tender. The length of the fruit is usually about 15 cm, width - 5 cm, weight - up to 150-200 grams. It appears in the first year after landing.
Very well stored in the ground, to protect from the cold enough to mulch with dry grass or sawdust.Species and varieties of plants
The best option to see all the variety of scoroner varieties is to go to a specialized store in Turkey. Here are the seeds of the “Spanish black”, “Black Knight”, “Lilac dragon” and Pusa Asita, they are great for growing in greenhouses. If you do not have the opportunity to visit the eastern country, pay attention to the varieties that have already taken root in the Russian dacha plots:
Black carrot fruits on a plate - painted in dark brown. Its length does not exceed 35 cm, weight - 130 grams.
- Therapeutic - medium-early variety. It has elongated ovate leaves and long roots. Root crop of conical shape, weighing up to 80 grams. Its white flesh is sweetish to taste.
- The solar premiere of the is an early variety with a vertical rosette made up of elongated ovoid leaves. The root crop has a dark brown color, light weight( up to 80 grams) and sufficient length( up to 32 cm).The yield is usually 1.5-2 kg per 1 sq. Km.meters.
- Gypsy is a two-year dietary variety. Root - black, cylindrical, up to 30 cm in length. Its pulp contains a large amount of milky juice, which is very useful for diabetics.
Overseas delicacy 
Therapeutic 
Solar premiere 
Gypsy Seeds of any of the described varieties can be ordered by Post , if suddenly in your city they are not in the store. Cost - from 15 rubles for a bag.
The Benefits and Harm of Root
Vegetable is rich in B and C vitamins, iron, calcium and other trace elements. It contains inulin, which affects the level of cholesterol in the blood, as well as a number of biologically active components that improve the functioning of the heart, stomach, intestines and kidneys. Therefore, it is very often used for the production of medicines. Scodzoner's
has no contraindications. But in any case, the first use of the root should be careful, as you may identify individual intolerance. Also in some cases, the root vegetable is able to produce a slight laxative effect.
Therapeutic properties of
Due to the fact that Scorzonera is rich in vitamins and minerals, it is often used to treat various diseases. Doctors recommend to use it in the fight against obesity, diabetes, influenza viruses and acute respiratory viral infections, vitamin deficiency and anemia. But it also contributes to lowering blood pressure, improving visual acuity( several times better than a normal root crop), removing various inflammations in the body.
Harvested Black Carrot Crop Cooking Application
At first glance, scoronone cannot be used. In appearance, it is very similar to the thick, straight root of a plant, for example, mandrake, or even to the usual slightly burnt stick. But this opinion changes as soon as the skin is removed. The flesh of the black carrot is white and very juicy, it smells like vanilla. It tastes like a sweet radish, or asparagus. It can be added to any soups, salads, main dishes.
They cook it differently: if they add it to the soup, they wash it and, after pouring it with hot water, peel it off, then cut it and throw it into the pan. If prepared for salad, do the same, only then boil for 20-30 minutes in salted water. However, the root can be eaten raw. To do this, it is enough to clean it, chop and fill with vegetable oil.
Thanks to the peculiar taste, Scorzonera is perfectly combined with meat, fish, orange carrots, beetroot, cabbage and many other products. Able to give a special flavor to soups and gravies, and the color to marmalade and jelly, which, after adding its juice, become saturated lilac in color. In general, black carrots can be used in the same way as regular orange ones. But what exactly the cooks themselves can do with it, i.e.you.
Black carrot sprouts Conclusion
Scorzonera is still little known in Russia, , but it needs to be corrected. Indeed, despite the peculiar look, color, and a bit whimsical character, it deserves to take a worthy place on our tables along with orange carrots. Do not forget about the benefits. Such a species is much more valuable than its “brother”, if only because it is the only natural source in the world of a substance that is very useful for the eyes - inulin.
