The Money Mustache Community
General Discussion => Share Your Badassity => Topic started by: Gone Fishing on May 17, 2018, 06:04:42 PM
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Free for the taking in many cases, bamboo shoots are an excellent vegetable. They emerge during a relatively short window in the spring. I grow several varieties which extend the shoot season over a 6 week period, but a single variety is only prime for a week or two at the most. Shoots are best dug when 6-12 inches tall. Just about any spade or shovel will do. Aim to intersect the shoot 2-3 inches under ground and sever it from the rhizome. Shoots 1.5"+ in diameter produce the best yield.
Once your shoots are dug, use a sharp knife to split the shoot lengthwise. This will allow you to easily remove the heart (the edible part) from the shoot. Once the heart is removed, clean it up with your knife and cool water. Then slice into thin pieces. I parboil my shoots for 20-30 minutes, then either use them right away or freeze for later use. Cut shoots do not last more than a day or two without cooking/freezing but you can buy yourself day or two by putting them in the fridge.
In the past, I had always used the shoots in Asian style cooking, but, tonight, I decided to try them in some Hispanic style fajitas, and they were great! It's nice to have another set of recipes to use them in. A Mustachian food for sure!
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Cool. Where do you live that there is a lot of bamboo growing around free for the taking?
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Cool. Where do you live that there is a lot of bamboo growing around free for the taking?
Southeast US. Once you get an eye for it, it's everywhere. Bamboo will grow decently (without irrigation) anywhere that stays above zero (F) and gets 25-30+ inches of rain.