Vegetables
Lily bulb
百合根 ゆりね yurine
Also known asyurine
At its best in Jan, Feb, Nov, Dec
When it is at its best
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
In seasonAvailable
How to cook
Chawanmushi
Separated scale by scale and added, for a floury bite.
Fukume-ni
Gently simmered in dashi, which brings out the sweetness.
Kinton
Sieved and worked with sugar, for New Year dishes.
Deep-fried plain
Fried briefly and salted, which makes it fragrant.
How to choose
Thick white scales drawn tightly together. Bulbs packed in sawdust are best.
Storage
Keep in the sawdust somewhere cool and dark. Sensitive to drying, so wrap in newspaper.
Main areas
Good to know
The bulbs of the tiger lily and its relatives. It takes about six years from seed bulb to shipping, which makes it a laborious crop, and more than ninety per cent comes from Hokkaido. The point is not to overcook it, or bitterness comes through.
