7 Ways to Use Burdock Root
If you take a stroll through our Produce Department, you’ll find root vegetables just about everywhere! You’ve got the popular crowd: carrots, beets, potatoes, and radishes. And then there’s the less familiar roots like jicama, kohlrabi, yucca, and the star of today's blog post: burdock root. Don’t let their looks fool you—they’re all delicious!
Also called Gobo, burdock root is commonly eaten as a vegetable in Japan. High in vitamins and trace minerals, burdock root is a great way to boost the overall nutrition of stir-fries, soups, salads, and more.
If you want to turn this underrated root veggie into a regular in your kitchen, check out 7 of our favorite ways to enjoy burdock root!
Roasted Burdock Root
We’ll start off with the simplest way to prepare and enjoy burdock root: oven-roasted!
In this recipe, burdock root is scrubbed and peeled before being cut into rounds and tossed up with olive oil, salt, and pepper. Once spread out on a baking sheet, you’ll oven roast your burdock root at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for 25-30 minutes.
Finish them off with a splash of soy sauce and a sprinkle of sesame seeds before serving them alongside salmon or tofu and a big green salad.
Photo Courtesy of RecipeTin Japan
Burdock Chips
There are potato chips, beet chips, and carrot chips. In our minds, we take that as if it’s a root vegetable, it’s definitely chip-able!
In this recipe from RecipeTin Japan, burdock root is scrubbed and peeled before being thinly sliced with a mandolin or thick vegetable peeler.
The slices of burdock root are then deep-fried in batches before being finished off with a sprinkle of flaky salt.
Enjoy your burdock chips as a snack or pair it with a sandwich for a yummy lunch!
Find the full recipe at RecipeTin Japan
Gobo Soup
A popular dish in Hong Kong and a great way to utilize burdock root, gobo soup is flavorful, warming, and filling on a cold, rainy day.
Plus, all you’ll need is burdock root, carrots, pearl barley, pork bones, and salt!
This recipe includes directions for both stovetop and Instant Pot methods, both of which will give you a simple and tasty soup you can make any day of the week.
Kinpira Gobo
Simply put, Kinpira Gobo is a traditional Japanese dish consisting of braised burdock root and carrot in a sweet and salty sauce.
It’s not typically served at restaurants but is a popular home-cooked dish throughout Japan.
In this recipe, burdock root and carrot are thinly cut into matchsticks before being pan-fried for a couple of minutes. The veggies are then marinated with soy sauce, sugar, Sake, and Mirin and cooked down before being topped with sesame seeds and served.
Enjoy it as a quick and healthy snack or pair it alongside chicken or fish for dinner!
Photo Courtesy of RecipeTin Japan
Pounded Burdock Root with Sesame Sauce
Often served at New Year feasts, pounded burdock root, traditionally known as Tataki Gobo, is a flavorful recipe packed full of burdock and sesame flavors.
All you’ll need is burdock root, vinegar, sesame seeds, soy sauce, and sugar, along with a rolling pin to pound the root. Pounding the burdock root just enough allows for the sesame sauce to absorb into the burdock root and create a well-rounded flavor. Just make sure not to beat up on it too much, otherwise, you’ll lose that delicious crunchy root texture.
Serve your pounded burdock root alongside other Japanese dishes like curry, chicken katsu, or yakitori!
Find the full recipe at RecipeTin Japan
Yamagobo (Pickled Burdock Root)
If you stocked up on a whole bunch of burdock root and have tried all the braised, baked, and fried dishes, consider pickling the rest!
In this recipe for yamagobo, burdock root is peeled and cut into matchsticks before being combined with rice vinegar, sugar, salt, water, and carrot powder (to create the bright orange color).
Enjoy your tamagobo after allowing your burdock root to pickle for at least 3 days.
Vegan Fried “Shrimp”
Believe it or not, when burdock root is cut, cooked, seasoned, marinated, breaded, and deep-fried, it can be transformed into vegan “shrimp”!
Though this recipe isn’t a quick flash in the pan, it is worth a shot if you’re interested in making some vegan-friendly shrimp at home.
Once it’s done, serve it with your favorite dipping sauce over a bed of rice.