Author Topic: Has anyone eaten Elephant Yam (Amorphophallus konjac?)  (Read 1174 times)

Standardbloke

  • Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 32
    • Australia
    • View Profile
Has anyone eaten Elephant Yam (Amorphophallus konjac?)
« on: June 01, 2020, 04:26:22 AM »
Picked up a plant yesterday. Is it basically the same as sweet potato?

Oolie

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1282
    • San Diego
    • View Profile
Re: Has anyone eaten Elephant Yam (Amorphophallus konjac?)
« Reply #1 on: June 01, 2020, 05:31:19 AM »
It is in no way similar to a sweet potato with the minor exceptions that the part consumed is subterranean and that it is consumed post processing.

Sweet potatoes are sweet and have calories, Konjac, or as I'm familiar with it こんやく, is processed into a paste which is cooked into either blocks or noodles, and is basically just plant fiber (no calories).

It's a fantastic dieting food, as it provides the sensation of being full, and all the nutrition for your microflora, but lacks the calories.

Here is a shortened episode.

Chandramohan

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 793
    • India, Kerala, Wynad
    • View Profile
Re: Has anyone eaten Elephant Yam (Amorphophallus konjac?)
« Reply #2 on: June 01, 2020, 07:24:10 AM »
Ofcourse it has calories as it contains carbohydrates.

Oolie

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1282
    • San Diego
    • View Profile
Re: Has anyone eaten Elephant Yam (Amorphophallus konjac?)
« Reply #3 on: June 01, 2020, 05:10:50 PM »
Ofcourse it has calories as it contains carbohydrates.

You are right.

But it's very minuscule. Functionally it's very close to zero.

Triphal

  • Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 221
    • US, Midatlantic, Charles Town, 6b + Lowland Tropical Zone 13
    • View Profile
Re: Has anyone eaten Elephant Yam (Amorphophallus konjac?)
« Reply #4 on: June 03, 2020, 06:27:32 PM »
Elephant Foot Yam aka 'suran' is so called because under surface tuber/root (yam) looks like the foot of an elephant. It grows and harvested throughout the year. It is starchy like other yams and taros. It is used also as a substitute for potato in some dishes. It can be deep fried like chips, like French fries, used in various types of pickles and chetnies, put in sambar, or it's own main dishes.It is always cooked i.e. boiled or fried, before consumption.
After harvesting the yam it is thoroughly washed and dried inside for about a week or so before cooking it. Shelf life of yam is about 3 to 4 months.
Before you cook you have to peel the skin with a potato peeler or a knife, cut them into the shape you want to and soak in ample water for half an hour, changing the water once and then only use it in your cooking. It may itch your skin while peeling so you can use some oil to your palms or use gloves.
If under cooked may get itching of the mouth and throat while eating it. It has high percentage of Phosphorous and Oxalic acid so high consumption is not good on Kidneys (CKD) and also for Gout.Hope this will help.

Chandramohan

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 793
    • India, Kerala, Wynad
    • View Profile
Re: Has anyone eaten Elephant Yam (Amorphophallus konjac?)
« Reply #5 on: June 04, 2020, 01:44:04 AM »
Elephant Foot Yam contains 25 gms of carbs for every 100 gms, equals 100 to 104 calories, so not all that miniscule!!.

Oolie

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1282
    • San Diego
    • View Profile
Re: Has anyone eaten Elephant Yam (Amorphophallus konjac?)
« Reply #6 on: June 04, 2020, 05:05:33 AM »
Elephant Foot Yam contains 25 gms of carbs for every 100 gms, equals 100 to 104 calories, so not all that miniscule!!.

Not all of those are soluble, some of it is in the form of insoluble fiber which does not convert to energy for the body but instead feed the organisms further downstream. If more of it was used by the body it would be a different story, but most passes through unused.

Chandramohan

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 793
    • India, Kerala, Wynad
    • View Profile
Re: Has anyone eaten Elephant Yam (Amorphophallus konjac?)
« Reply #7 on: June 07, 2020, 02:13:20 AM »
25 gms of carbs is soluble. In addition it contains 2gms of insoluble fibre.