Jerusalem artichoke

American  

noun

1. Also called girasol.  a sunflower, Helianthus tuberosus, having edible, tuberous, underground stems or rootstocks.

2. Also called sunchoke.  the tuber itself.

---

Jerusalem artichoke British  

noun

1. a North American sunflower, Helianthus tuberosus, widely cultivated for its underground edible tubers

2. the tuber of this plant, which is cooked and eaten as a vegetable

---

Etymology

Origin of Jerusalem artichoke

1635–45; alteration of Italian girasole articiocco edible sunflower. See girasol, artichoke

Example Sentences

Jerusalem artichoke soup arrives earthy and thick, built for thawing.

From Salon • Mar. 8, 2026

Jerusalem artichoke, or sunchoke, a perennial sunflower, will try to outdo even the tall coneflower in height and inclination to spread.

From Seattle Times • Apr. 20, 2023

I sidle over to spoon my husband’s cream of Jerusalem artichoke soup with lemon verbena and shellfish; he filches confit.

From Washington Post • Mar. 12, 2015

Jerusalem artichoke soup with a poached egg in the middle, followed by grilled salmon.

From The Guardian • Dec. 8, 2012

He hurried to the root cellar and packed his rucksack with enough nuts, venison jerky, and big potatolike Jerusalem artichoke roots to feed himself for three or four days.

From "Frightful's Mountain" by Jean Craighead George