Kinpira Gobo

((gobo — burdock root, carrot, and edamame – young soy beans))

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Kinpira Gobo

Japanese young and old have enjoyed the long, thin, brown root vegetable gobo. Its fibrous texture makes for a wonderfully satisfying crunch! KINPIRA can be made solely of gobo, but Domo adds carrot and edamame for color and taste, as well as nutritional value. At Domo, the thinly sliced gobo root and carrots are sautéed with a small amount of oil and seasoned lightly with soy sauce.

image Wild gobo root is commonly found in various regions of the world. In fact, wild gobo plants grow in Denver. The Japanese are among the minority of people who eat gobo root, but many cultures use the gobo root as an herbal remedy. The medicinal properties of gobo root have been well known for centuries. Gobo root is often used to purify the blood by removing toxins from the bloodstream. It has been known to ease pain from arthritis and to cure symptoms of gout, rheumatism, throat pain, tonsillitis and colds. Gobo root has also been used to treat skin problems such as acne, eczema and psoriasis. Gobo root can be used also as a gentle stimulant to cleanse the digestive system.

During World War II, the unassuming gobo root played a part in an international misunderstanding. A Japanese official was accused of inhumane treatment and punished severely for serving a dish made from gobo root to American prisoners of war. The American military leaders did not understand the nutritional and culinary value of gobo root and thought it to be only a wood root. During that time in Japan, food was scarce, and the Japanese authorities had been trying to do their best to feed their prisoners by supplying them with this delicious and nutritious gobo dish. This was an extremely unfortunate incident where the gobo root got the wrong end of the stick.

There have been more honorable stories associated with the gobo root. In the early 1940s a Swiss inventor named George de Mestral became curious about the seeds that had become attached to his clothing and to his dog’s fur during walks in the countryside. The seeds were difficult to remove, but their structure was intriguing when seen under a microscope. The seeds used a hook and loop connecting system and were effective in attaching themselves to anyone passing by. After careful examination of the gobo seeds, Mr. Mestral invented Velcro, an invention that has made an amazing contribution to our modern lifestyle.

One serving of KINPIRA GOBO provides approximately:
40 calories (2%),  8 grams carbohydrates (2%) , 1.3 grams dietary fiber (5%) ,  1.0 grams protein, 1.2 grams fat (1%), 0 % cholesterol,  8% Vitamin A, 2% vitamin C, 4% iron, 5% potassium, and 6 % sodium.

Supplier: Nishimoto Trading Co., H-Mart Market, Shamrock Foods
Product origin: Japan, USA, Taiwan