Group · Vegetables
Black salsify
Black salsify, or scorzonera, is a long root with black skin and white flesh. It is the one sold under the name « salsify » in French shops: true white salsify has almost disappeared from the stalls.
In terms of nutrition facts, raw it provides 83 kcal per 100 g, with 15.3 g of carbohydrate, 3.3 g of fibre and 3.13 g of protein. It provides 387 mg of potassium, 32.1 mg of magnesium and 24.1 mg of calcium per 100 g.
Macronutrient breakdown
Nutrition table per 100 g
| Calories | 83 kcal |
| Kilojoules | 351 kJ |
| Protein | 3,2 g |
| Carbohydrate | 15,3 g |
| Fat | 0,3 g |
| Fibre | 3,3 g |
Micronutrients per 100 g
All measured nutrients, ranked by share of the daily reference intake.
- Potassium387 mg19 %
- Vitamin B10,15 mg14 %
- Phosphorus94 mg13 %
- Copper0,12 mg12 %
- Magnesium32,1 mg9 %
- Vitamin E0,8 mg7 %
- Vitamin B60,07 mg5 %
- Iron0,7 mg5 %
See the other 7 nutrients
- Vitamin C3 mg4 %
- Vitamin B20,05 mg4 %
- Calcium24,1 mg3 %
- Vitamin B30,3 mg2 %
- Omega-3 ALA0,04 g2 %
- Omega-6 LA0,02 g0 %
- Iodine0,2 µg0 %
Anses Ciqual 2025. Source: Anses, 2025, Ciqual food composition table
Tips
83 kcal: it is a root, not a green vegetable. Its 15.3 g of carbohydrate put it close to the potato. It takes the place of a starchy food on the plate, not a vegetable side.
Its carbohydrates are mostly inulin. A soluble fibre that the body does not digest but the gut microbiota ferments: it is an effective prebiotic, and also the cause of the bloating it gives some people.
It turns black as soon as it is peeled. Drop the pieces into lemon water as you go, and cook them in a « blanc » of water, flour and lemon to keep them white.
Its sap sticks to your hands. A white latex oozes out when you peel it. Wear gloves, or peel it under water: this is the main barrier to eating it.
Tinned, it is much simpler. The preparation work is the real reason it has become scarce. The jarred version, rinsed, is still a good product.