I used to avoid buying these odd-looking tubers because I didn’t know what to do with them. But they are a versatile winter vegetable that can be roasted, blended or, if particularly fresh, thinly sliced and eaten raw.

Neither an artichoke nor from the Middle East, this vegetable has a distinctive, though relatively mild flavour that is perfect for a winter soup. Despite being a low-starch vegetable, when blended the soup has a luscious creamy consistency.