Horseradish

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Horseradish
Armoracia rusticana.jpg
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Brassicales
Family: Brassicaceae
Genus: Armoracia
Species:
A. rusticana
Binomial name
Armoracia rusticana
Synonyms [2]
Synonymy
  • Armoracia armoraciaCockerell ex Daniels
  • Armoracia lapathifoliaGilib.
  • Armoracia rusticaSchur
  • Armoracia sativaBernh.
  • Cardamine armoracia(L.) Kuntze
  • Cochlearia armoraciaL.
  • Cochlearia lancifoliaStokes
  • Cochlearia lapathifoliaGilib.
  • Cochlearia rusticanaLam.
  • Cochlearia variifoliaSalisb.
  • Crucifera armoraciaE.H.L.Krause
  • Nasturtium armoracia(L.) Fr.
  • Raphanis magnaMoench
  • Raphanus rusticanusGarsault
  • Rorippa armoracia(L.) Hitchc.
  • Rorippa rusticana(G. Gaertn., B. Mey. & Scherb.) Godr.
Sections of roots of the horseradish plant Kren Verkauf.jpg
Sections of roots of the horseradish plant
Foliage of the horseradish plant Gardenology.org-IMG 2788 rbgs11jan.jpg
Foliage of the horseradish plant

Horseradish (Armoracia rusticana, syn. Cochlearia armoracia) is a perennial plant of the family Brassicaceae (which also includes mustard, wasabi, broccoli, cabbage, and radish). It is a root vegetable, cultivated and used worldwide as a spice and as a condiment. The species is probably native to Southeastern Europe and Western Asia.

Contents

Description

Horseradish grows up to 1.5 meters (5 feet) tall, with hairless bright green unlobed leaves up to 1 m (3 ft 3 in) long that may be mistaken for docks ( Rumex ). [3] :423 It is cultivated primarily for its large, white, tapered root. [4] [5] [6] [7] The white four-petalled flowers are scented and are borne in dense panicles. [3] Established plants may form extensive patches [3] and may become invasive unless carefully managed. [8]

Intact horseradish root has little aroma. When cut or grated, enzymes from within the plant cells digest sinigrin (a glucosinolate) to produce allyl isothiocyanate (mustard oil), which irritates the mucous membranes of the sinuses and eyes. Once exposed to air or heat, horseradish loses its pungency, darkens in color, and develops a bitter flavor.

History

Fresco containing a possible horseradish from Ostia Antica Ostia, Thermopolium, menu affrescato.JPG
Fresco containing a possible horseradish from Ostia Antica

Horseradish has been cultivated since antiquity. Dioscorides listed horseradish equally as Persicon sinapi (Diosc. 2.186) or Sinapi persicum (Diosc. 2.168), [9] which Pliny's Natural History reported as Persicon napy; [10] Cato discusses the plant in his treatises on agriculture. A mural in Ostia Antica shows the plant. Horseradish is probably the plant mentioned by Pliny the Elder in his Natural History under the name of Amoracia, and recommended by him for its medicinal qualities, and possibly the wild radish, or raphanos agrios of the Greeks. The early Renaissance herbalists Pietro Andrea Mattioli and John Gerard showed it under Raphanus. [11] Its modern Linnaean genus Armoracia was first applied to it by Heinrich Bernhard Ruppius, in his Flora Jenensis, 1745, but Linnaeus himself called it Cochlearia armoracia.

Both roots and leaves were used as a traditional medicine during the Middle Ages. The root was used as a condiment on meats in Germany, Scandinavia, and Britain. It was introduced to North America during European colonization; both George Washington and Thomas Jefferson mention horseradish in garden accounts. [12] Native Americans used it to stimulate the glands, stave off scurvy, and as a diaphoretic treatment for the common cold. [13]

William Turner mentions horseradish as Red Cole in his "Herbal" (1551–1568), but not as a condiment. In The Herball, or Generall Historie of Plantes (1597), John Gerard describes it under the name of raphanus rusticanus, stating that it occurs wild in several parts of England. After referring to its medicinal uses, he says:

[T]he Horse Radish stamped with a little vinegar put thereto, is commonly used among the Germans for sauce to eat fish with and such like meats as we do mustard. [14]

Etymology and common names

The word horseradish is attested in English from the 1590s. It combines the word horse (formerly used in a figurative sense to mean strong or coarse) and the word radish . [15] Some sources say that the term originates from a mispronunciation of the German word "meerrettich" as "mareradish". [16] [17] [18] However, this hypothesis has been disputed, as there is no historical evidence of this term being used. [19]

In Central and Eastern Europe, horseradish is called chren, hren and ren (in various spellings like kren) in many Slavic languages, in Austria, in parts of Germany (where the other German name Meerrettich is not used), in North-East Italy, and in Yiddish (כריין transliterated as khreyn). It is common in Ukraine (under the name of хрін, khrin), in Belarus (under the name of хрэн, chren), in Poland (under the name of chrzan), in Czechia (křen), in Slovakia (chren), in Russia (хрен, khren), in Hungary (torma), in Romania (hrean), in Lithuania (krienas), and in Bulgaria (under the name of хрян).

Cultivation

Horseradish, from The Book of Health, 1898, by Henry Munson Lyman Horse-radish plate no 6 bv73c1191 bk128b698 crop.jpg
Horseradish, from The Book of Health, 1898, by Henry Munson Lyman

Horseradish is perennial in hardiness zones 2–9 and can be grown as an annual in other zones, although not as successfully as in zones with both a long growing season and winter temperatures cold enough to ensure plant dormancy. After the first frost in autumn kills the leaves, the root is dug and divided. The main root is harvested and one or more large offshoots of the main root are replanted to produce next year's crop. Horseradish left undisturbed in the garden spreads via underground shoots and can become invasive. Older roots left in the ground become woody, after which they are no longer culinarily useful, although older plants can be dug and re-divided to start new plants. The early season leaves can be distinctively different, asymmetric spiky, before the mature typical flat broad leaves start to be developed.

Pests and diseases

Introduced by accident, "cabbageworms", the larvae of Pieris rapae , are a common caterpillar pest in horseradish. Mature caterpillars chew large, ragged holes in the leaves leaving the large veins intact. Handpicking is an effective control strategy in home gardens. [20] Another common pest of horseradish is the mustard leaf beetle ( Phaedon cochleariae ). [21] These beetles are undeterred by the defense mechanisms produced by Brassicaceae plants like horseradish. [22]

Production

In the United States, horseradish is grown in several areas such as Eau Claire, Wisconsin, and Tule Lake, California. The most concentrated growth occurs in the Collinsville, Illinois region. [23]

30,000 metric tonnes of horseradish are produced in Europe annually, of which Hungary produces 12,000, making it the biggest single producer. [24]

Culinary uses

Allyl isothiocyanate is the pungent ingredient in fresh horseradish sauce. Allyl-isothiocyanate-2D-skeletal.png
Allyl isothiocyanate is the pungent ingredient in fresh horseradish sauce.

The distinctive pungent taste of horseradish is from the compound allyl isothiocyanate. Upon crushing the flesh of horseradish, the enzyme myrosinase is released and acts on the glucosinolates sinigrin and gluconasturtiin, which are precursors to the allyl isothiocyanate.[ citation needed ] The allyl isothiocyanate serves the plant as a natural defense against herbivores. Since allyl isothiocyanate is harmful to the plant itself, it is stored in the harmless form of the glucosinolate, separate from the enzyme myrosinase. When an animal chews the plant, the allyl isothiocyanate is released, repelling the animal. [25] Allyl isothiocyanate is an unstable compound, degrading over the course of days at 37 °C (99 °F). [26] Because of this instability, horseradish sauces lack the pungency of the freshly crushed roots.

Cooks may use the terms "horseradish" or "prepared horseradish" to refer to the mashed (or grated) root of the horseradish plant mixed with vinegar. Prepared horseradish is white to creamy-beige in color. It can be stored for up to 3 months under refrigeration, [27] but eventually will darken, indicating less flavour.[ citation needed ] The leaves of the plant are edible, either cooked or raw when young, [28] with a flavor similar but weaker than the roots.

On Passover, many Ashkenazi Jews use grated horseradish as a choice for Maror (bitter herbs) at the Passover Seder. [29]

Horseradish sauce

A dish of horseradish served with a meal Semmelkren.jpg
A dish of horseradish served with a meal
A bottle of prepared horseradish Fresh Ground Horseradish.jpg
A bottle of prepared horseradish

Horseradish sauce made from grated horseradish root and vinegar is a common condiment in the United Kingdom, in Denmark (with sugar added) and in Poland. [30] In the UK, it is usually served with roast beef, often as part of a traditional Sunday roast, but can be used in a number of other dishes, including sandwiches or salads. A variation of horseradish sauce, which in some cases may substitute the vinegar with other products like lemon juice or citric acid, is known in Germany as Tafelmeerrettich. Also available in the UK is Tewkesbury mustard, a blend of mustard and grated horseradish originating in medieval times and mentioned by Shakespeare (Falstaff says: "his wit's as thick as Tewkesbury Mustard" in Henry IV Part II [31] ). A similar mustard, called Krensenf or Meerrettichsenf, is common in Austria and parts of Germany. In France, sauce au raifort is used in Alsatian cuisine. In Russia, horseradish root is usually mixed with grated garlic and a small amount of tomatoes for color (Khrenovina sauce).

In the United States, the term "horseradish sauce" refers to grated horseradish combined with mayonnaise or salad dressing. In Denmark, it is mixed with whipping cream and as such used on top of traditional Danish open sandwiches with beef (boiled or steaked) slices. Prepared horseradish is a common ingredient in Bloody Mary cocktails and in cocktail sauce and is used as a sauce or sandwich spread. Horseradish cream is a mixture of horseradish and sour cream and is served au jus for a prime rib dinner. [32]

Vegetable

Beetroot horseradish KHzrt `m slq.jpg
Beetroot horseradish

In Europe, there are two varieties of chrain. "Red" chrain is mixed with red beetroot and "white" chrain contains no beetroot. Chrain is a part of Christian Easter and Jewish Passover tradition (as maror ) in Eastern and Central Europe. In the Christian tradition, horseradish is eaten during Eastertide (Paschaltide) as "is a reminder of the bitterness of Jesus' suffering" on Good Friday. [33]

Relation to wasabi

Outside Japan, the Japanese condiment wasabi, although traditionally prepared from the true wasabi plant (Wasabia japonica), is now usually made with horseradish due to the scarcity of the wasabi plant. [40] The Japanese botanical name for horseradish is seiyōwasabi (セイヨウワサビ, 西洋山葵), or "Western wasabi". Both plants are members of the family Brassicaceae.

Nutritional content

In a 100-gram amount, prepared horseradish provides 48 calories and has high content of vitamin C with moderate content of sodium, folate and dietary fiber, while other essential nutrients are negligible in content. [41] In a typical serving of one tablespoon (15 grams), horseradish supplies no significant nutrient content. [41]

Horseradish contains volatile oils, notably mustard oil. [25]

Biomedical uses

The enzyme horseradish peroxidase (HRP), found in the plant, is used extensively in molecular biology and biochemistry primarily for its ability to amplify a weak signal and increase detectability of a target molecule. [42] HRP has been used in decades of research to visualize under microscopy and assess non-quantitatively the permeability of capillaries, particularly those of the brain. [43]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wasabi</span> Species of edible plant

Wasabi or Japanese horseradish is a plant of the family Brassicaceae, which also includes horseradish and mustard in other genera. The plant is native to Japan, the Russian Far East including Sakhalin, and the Korean Peninsula. It grows naturally along stream beds in mountain river valleys in Japan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Condiment</span> Substance added to food for flavour

A condiment is a preparation that is added to food, typically after cooking, to impart a specific flavour, to enhance the flavour, or to complement the dish.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Beetroot</span> Taproot portion of the beet plant

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Isothiocyanate</span> Chemical group (–N=C=S)

In organic chemistry, isothiocyanate is a functional group as found in compounds with the formula R−N=C=S. Isothiocyanates are the more common isomers of thiocyanates, which have the formula R−S−C≡N.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Polish cuisine</span> Culinary traditions of Poland

Polish cuisine is a style of food preparation originating in and widely popular in Poland. Due to Poland's history, Polish cuisine has evolved over the centuries to be very eclectic, and shares many similarities with other national cuisines. Polish cooking in other cultures is often referred to as à la polonaise.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mustard oil</span> Oil derived from mustard plants

Mustard oil can mean either the pressed oil used for cooking, or a pungent essential oil also known as volatile oil of mustard. The essential oil results from grinding mustard seed, mixing the grounds with water, and isolating the resulting volatile oil by distillation. It can also be produced by dry distillation of the seed. Pressed mustard oil is used as cooking oil in some cultures, but sale is restricted in some countries due to high levels of erucic acid. Varieties of mustard seed low in erucic acid have been cultivated.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Allyl isothiocyanate</span> Chemical compound

Allyl isothiocyanate (AITC) is a naturally occurring unsaturated isothiocyanate. The colorless oil is responsible for the pungent taste of cruciferous vegetables such as mustard, radish, horseradish, and wasabi. This pungency and the lachrymatory effect of AITC are mediated through the TRPA1 and TRPV1 ion channels. It is slightly soluble in water, but more soluble in most organic solvents.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Glucosinolate</span> Class of chemical compounds

Glucosinolates are natural components of many pungent plants such as mustard, cabbage, and horseradish. The pungency of those plants is due to mustard oils produced from glucosinolates when the plant material is chewed, cut, or otherwise damaged. These natural chemicals most likely contribute to plant defence against pests and diseases, and impart a characteristic bitter flavor property to cruciferous vegetables.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gluconasturtiin</span> Chemical compound

Gluconasturtiin or phenethyl glucosinolate is one of the most widely distributed glucosinolates in the cruciferous vegetables, mainly in the roots, and is probably one of the plant compounds responsible for the natural pest-inhibiting properties of growing crucifers, such as cabbage, mustard or rape, in rotation with other crops. This effect of gluconasturtiin is due to its degradation by the plant enzyme myrosinase into phenethyl isothiocyanate, which is toxic to many organisms.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Khrenovina sauce</span>

Khrenovina sauce is a spicy horseradish sauce served with a main course, popular in Siberia. It is prepared by blending fresh tomatoes, horseradish, garlic and salt. Ground black pepper, ground paprika, sweet bell pepper, vinegar, and sugar may also be added. It may be served with traditional Russian meat dishes, including pelmeni.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mustard (condiment)</span> Condiment made from mustard seeds

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<i>Chrain</i> Horseradish paste

Chrain is a spicy paste made of grated horseradish. It is a common condiment for meat and fish dishes in Eastern and Central European cuisines. Chrain comes from Yiddish כריין, which is in turn a loanword from Slavic languages.

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