Guest guest Posted November 12, 2008 Report Share Posted November 12, 2008 Does anybody have any experience with kudzu root?I had read that kudzu powder could be used as a thickener for soups and such;I ran across some kudzu root at a local market,it was in the spice aisle,they are small pieces of the root,the jar they were in listed them as " kudzu root,cut " an stated they were an " herbal supplement " .So,I'm wondering can I just powderize this stuff in my vitamix and use it? Any tips would be appreciated. Rob Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 12, 2008 Report Share Posted November 12, 2008 I use it all the time to thicken gravey, or anything that you want thickened really. I used to take my grandson to a Homeopatic doctor who prescribed Kudzu cruel for a cold. Just a little kudzu, water and soy sauce. Its good for the digestive system also. Anita --- On Wed, 11/12/08, Robert <placidazure1 wrote: Robert <placidazure1 Kudzu Root Question Wednesday, November 12, 2008, 4:00 PM Does anybody have any experience with kudzu root?I had read that kudzu powder could be used as a thickener for soups and such;I ran across some kudzu root at a local market,it was in the spice aisle,they are small pieces of the root,the jar they were in listed them as " kudzu root,cut " an stated they were an " herbal supplement " . So,I'm wondering can I just powderize this stuff in my vitamix and use it? Any tips would be appreciated. Rob Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 12, 2008 Report Share Posted November 12, 2008 I buy kudzu in bulk at my local coop--it has a irregular cornstarch appearance. I have used it to thicken soups. You use it just like cornstarch in approximately the same proportions, like those wonderful chocolate puddings. You should be able to just soak it in cold water before you add it to something. You shouldn't need to pulverize it first if it is packaged. It can also be used medicinally for the treatment of ulcers--I originally began cooking with it after I developed stomach ulcers. It is an invasive weed in southeastern United States so it should be pretty cheap. Most of the packaged stuff is imported, from my experience, but it is plentiful here in the USA. Do a search on it-- there are sites that have recipes. Kathleen Eureka CA > Does anybody have any experience with kudzu root? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 13, 2008 Report Share Posted November 13, 2008 This is just idle wondering, of course, but if kudzu root is good for a food thickener and also has some (folk) medicinal and/or nutritional properties, why couldn't it be harvested, dried, ground to some kind of flour and used as a food resource? I don't live in the part of the country that has this problem with " invasive " kudzu--at least not yet. For years, my family has driven thru parts of the country (en route to a vacation spot) where kudzu is rampant. Years ago, we'd drive all night to arrive at my parents' place in Florida, passing thru Georgia. My 2 young daughters were frightened out of their minds by the " monsters " made by kudzu growing completely over the tops of trees and bushes by the sides of the interstate highway. It seems there is PLENTY of kudzu in the US that could be dug up--roots being what they use for the food thickener, right? Why waste so much expense, energy and (of course!) why put the environment at risk by using herbicides to " kill off " the invasive plants when they might be profitable and even nutritious as food? Maybe there isn't such a great food value in it. I was just idly wondering stuff---please bear with my silliness! --Laura B., in Illinois (where the kudzu does NOT grow--yet!) Re: Kudzu Root Question Posted by: " Kathleen Pelley " kmpelley kmpelley Wed Nov 12, 2008 8:03 pm ((PST)) I buy kudzu in bulk at my local coop--it has a irregular cornstarch appearance. I have used it to thicken soups. You use it just like cornstarch in approximately the same proportions, like those wonderful chocolate puddings. You should be able to just soak it in cold water before you add it to something. You shouldn't need to pulverize it first if it is packaged. It can also be used medicinally for the treatment of ulcers--I originally began cooking with it after I developed stomach ulcers. It is an invasive weed in southeastern United States so it should be pretty cheap. Most of the packaged stuff is imported, from my experience, but it is plentiful here in the USA. Do a search on it-- there are sites that have recipes. Kathleen Eureka CA Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 13, 2008 Report Share Posted November 13, 2008 If you go back-woodsy enough here in the South you will find Kudzu jelly. Pretty nasty in my opinion, but then Kudzu is the bane of my existence! -Jacki in not-so-sunny Florida , " Kathleen Pelley " <kmpelley wrote: > > I buy kudzu in bulk at my local coop--it has a irregular cornstarch > appearance. I have used it to thicken soups. You use it just like > cornstarch in approximately the same proportions, like those wonderful > chocolate puddings. You should be able to just soak it in cold water > before you add it to something. You shouldn't need to pulverize it > first if it is packaged. > > It can also be used medicinally for the treatment of ulcers--I > originally began cooking with it after I developed stomach ulcers. > > It is an invasive weed in southeastern United States so it should be > pretty cheap. Most of the packaged stuff is imported, from my > experience, but it is plentiful here in the USA. Do a search on it- - > there are sites that have recipes. > > Kathleen > Eureka CA > > > Does anybody have any experience with kudzu root? > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You are posting as a guest. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.