Japanese Knotweed Apple Crumble
By: Sheri Wetherell
Published: May 29, 2009

Recently we were introduced to an interesting vegetable, Japanese Knotweed, by our local forager. I had never heard of or seen anything like it. A beautiful asparagus-looking plant with thick stocks and full leaves, we were told it resembled rhubarb in flavor. Being a huge fan of rhubarb, Barnaby's eyes instantly lit up. He grabbed a bag and started filling it with the shoots.
At home he made a Japanese Knotweed Apple Crumble. To me, it tasted a bit more earthy than I would have liked, but it does have a wonderful sour flavor - indeed similar to rhubarb.
Just another one of those cool farmer's market finds!

Comments:
perry atkins
June 8, 2009

Just so you know,  Japanese Knotweed is a substantial problem here in the NW as an invasive plant and very difficult to kill introduced species.
As result there is extensive spraying of herbicides on these plants all over the Seattle area in attempt to control/kill the infestation.  Public lands where people might try to forge stand a good chance of having been sprayed. I seem to recall that simply cutting them down does not work and in fact may invigorate growth. I may be slightly off on that point  but I do know that simply cutting them down as no impact on stopping them.
Sheri Wetherell

Good to know!! Thanks, Perry!
Japanese knotweed

Japanese knotweed crumble is soooo yummy if made correctly!
it's one of my favourites and the correct ingredients needed to make it work are below:
500g young knotweed shoots, including leafy “spears”, lower sections peeled, sliced into 8cm pieces
50ml water
100g caster sugar
200g plain flour, sifted
100g cold butter, cubed
125g brown sugar
It such a nice ingredient to work with, i think it needs to be made more aware to the public as eradicating this annoying weed just became easy!!
Thanks for the post, will be researching into new meals soon soon :o)
G

This plant is extremely invasive and spreads rapidly. Only treatment is heavy glyphosate spraying in growing season, for 3 consecutive years. Stems can break through asphalt and even relatively thin concrete. Problem is so bad in teh UK that biological control methods are bing considered, and it is an offence to plant or cause it to be planted.