Balloon flower is a bitter-flavored root with a tan outside and white inside meat. It is available in both fresh and dried varieties. This root is known to have medicinal properties that can benefit lung health. This root can be seasoned as a side dish, used for tea, made into a syrup, or used to make alcohol.
When preparing fresh balloon flower, first remove the outer skin. Then soak it in saltwater and or massage it with coarse salt for a few minutes to remove the excess bitter flavor. As you massage this root with coarse salt a white liquid will come out and, in the end, the root will be less bitter.
When preparing dried balloon flower, soak the dried pieces in cold water overnight. The next morning, drain the water from the root and add a spoon full of coarse salt. Just like the fresh balloon flower, massage the root for a few minutes to remove some natural bitter flavor.
Leave a Reply