The Root (Potato)

This is the potato. It is called yatsugashira. Zuiki imo comes from this. Click on the label below to see other posts.

here is a big tray of yatsugashira.  The tray on the right is full of zuiki imo (sometimes called beni zuiki.). Daikon and leeks are on the left.

Out to Dry

This is called zuiki imo, the stems (kuki) of a potato plant. The potato is a big potato that is eaten at New Year's. I'll be on the lookout to get a picture of it.

Baba told me that she doesn't particularly like it so she doesn't buy and serve it. It has a unique flavor. She said that it was something that was used in times when there wasn't much food. But people still eat and enjoy it in miso soup and in other vegetable broth dishes.
The stems are dried. The outer skin is stripped off. Then the stems are chopped and used in dishes.