Tuscan inspired skillet potatoes, brussels sprouts and cranberry beans by Meera Nalavadi

Burdock Root from the Farmers Market at Union Square by Karen Schuld

My friend Keiko, from Tokyo, introduced me to burdock root, a slender brown root vegetable that is common in Japanese cuisine. This week, i was happy to find this vegetable at the farmer's market at Union Square. The root has a nutty sweet flavor with a crunch texture that tastes perfect with a bowl of rice and a glass of hot Saki.