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Horseradish
(Armoracia rusticana)

Horseradish Leaves - Photo Copyright Debs Cook

Horseradish Flowers - Photo Copyright Debs Cook

By Sarah Head

When you think of hedgerow herbs, horseradish is not the first plant to come to mind, yet it grows happily along grass verges and canal banks in both cities and countryside. Its use has been known since very ancient times when Greek mythology tells that the Delphic Oracle told Apollo that horseradish was worth its weight in gold. Early Mediterranean dwellers, from Greeks to Jews and Arabs used horseradish both as a food and a medicine.

Horseradish is a perennial plant of the brassica family which includes mustard, wasabi and cabbages. The long green leaves resemble giant dandelions from early springtime until the depths of winter and in summer, delicate white flowers dance above the foliage.

My first memory of horseradish was as a condiment, a sweet but fiery accompaniment to roast beef at Sunday dinner. My mother made it with thick cream from our house cow and I could never get enough of it.

Horseradish Sauce

2 heaped tsp grated horseradish
1/4 tsp mustard
1-2 tblsp malt vinegar
2 tsp sugar
2 tblsp double cream

Mix horseradish, mustard powder and sugar. Add vinegar and mix until mixture is moistened. Add cream and stir.

Washed Horseradish Root - Photo Copyright Sarah Head

My second memory of horseradish was a colleague who was hoping to become a medical herbalist. She was taking a distance learning course and horseradish was one of the herbs she had to learn. “It’s very useful,” I remember her saying as we ate lunch together during a conference after she showed me the pages of her handout, “it helps with the digestion and you can use it as a poultice.”

She didn't mention how good horseradish is for clearing the sinuses, but anyone who has ever been involved with the root will tell you how their eyes stream and their noses feel as if something as exploded upwards inside them! It's best to try and process the root out of doors if possible, but if you wish to cheat, like I do and use a coffee grinder to whizz up the roots after chopping them into small pieces, you have to stay indoors and face the build up of horseradish fumes!

I did try to make horseradish syrup using Juliet Bruton Seal’s method of covering a portion of grated horseradish with an equal amount of sugar and waiting for a liquid to develop through osmosis, but it didn’t work for me. What I did find when I used honey instead of sugar, was that the honey tastes wonderful and I’m aiming to use it with cider vinegar whenever I have a cold or sinus infection.

Horseradish Honey

Grate up two roots of horseradish and add to 3/4lb runny honey. Place in glass jar with screw top lid and leave to infuse for several weeks.

Another wonderful liquid to make with horseradish is Fire Cider Vinegar. Apparently the recipe came originally from American Herbalist, Rosemary Gladstar. I first saw it in Lesley Tierra's book, “ Herbs for Children” as a recipe for young herb lovers to make. This is my version:

Fire Cider Vinegar

Equal portions of horseradish and ginger root – grate or whizz in a coffee grinder. (It is your choice whether you peel the roots or not. I didn't)

1 head of garlic, peeled and coarsely chopped
1 good handful of rosehips (fresh or dried)
6 cloves
2 tsps paprika
2tsps turmeric
2 tsps cayenne pepper

(If you have access to fresh chilli peppers, you can add these as well, leaving the seeds in to give extra “fire”!)

Mix all dry ingredients together in a large glass jar so it is filled about half full, then add cider vinegar stirring well to remove air bubbles until the jar is full. Place cling film over the top of the jar before sealing with screw top lid. Label and date. Place jar in warm, dark place for 6-8 weeks. Strain and use.

Horseradish Honey - Photo Copyright Sarah Head

Fire cider vinegar can be drunk with honey and boiling water (about 2tsps of each to a mug of boiling water) or on its own in a little water. It can also be used in salad dressings. Like elderberry elixir, the advice is to take this potion at the first sign of any viral infection.

References

Bruton-Seal, J & Seal, M Hedgerow Medicine: Harvest & make your own herbal remedies 2008 Merlin Unwin Books Ltd ISBN 978 1 873674 99 4

Tierra, L A Kid’s Herb Book for children of all ages 2000 Robert D Reed Publishers ISBN 8850003 36 6 51995

Sarah Head is a member of The Herb Society and a regular contributor to our forum and website. She offers training on coping with bereavement to professionals all over the country. And also runs herb workshops and grows over 100 herbs in two gardens in Solihull and the Cotswolds.

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Hedgerow To Kitchen

Horseradish (Armoracia rusticana)

Return to the Herbs In The Kitchen Page

To make comments on this article, go to our Forum.

Horseradish
(Armoracia rusticana)