So what is this? I bought it tonight thinking it was pre-cooked beni imo.  When I got to the  checkout the young man weighed it and pointed out the price – 380 yen, about $5 dollars. He then began to talk to me.

He said, “Hey, do you realize how expensive this is? I mean do you really want to buy this?”

I said “Beni Imo?”

He said ” No, not Beni Imo. It is 奇妙な日本の野菜”

I said, ” Oh I see,  I will get it anyway.”

It is the size of a small apple.

Anyone know what it is?

A few days later

If you read the comments you will discover that  the mystery vegetable has been unmasked and Naoko san has been kind enough to send a recipe.

Here is a recipe of Ta-n-mu Dengaku (Fried Ta-n-mu), one of the traditional Okinawan dish. (I made a mistake in my comment.  Ta-n-mu Age is Ta-n-mu Dengaku.  There is a dish called Ta-n-mu Duruwakashii, which is practically a mashed ta-n-mu mixed with small diced pork, shiitake mashrooms, stems of ta-n-mu with seasonings.  Duruwakashii is very difficult to explain, so this time please forgive me for not passing the recipe.)

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【Ta-n-mu Dengaku】 1-2 servings

Ingredients:

2 big Ta-n-mu
4 table spoon soy sauce
4 table spoon sugar
2 table spoon water
Oil for frying

Directions:

1. Peel off the skin of the ta-n-mu
2. Cut each ta-n-mu into quarters
3. Put soy sauce, sugar, and water into a frying pan.  Bring it to boil, and turn off the heat. Put it aside.
4. Put oil in a pan and fry the cut ta-n-mu.  When all the ta-n-mu get medium brown and crispy outside, take them out and put into 3.  Mix well so that the ta-n-mu absorb the sauce.
5. Bon Appétit!!