From Our Farm
Sugar Cane
Sugar cane is a tall tropical grass whose fibrous stalk stores sweet juice. Peeled pieces can be chewed for their juice, pressed for drinks or used as naturally sweet skewers and stirring sticks.
How it compares to Fresh fruit juice and bamboo
Sugar cane juice is sweet like fruit juice but comes from a grass stalk and contains a great deal of sucrose. The stalk may look bamboo-like, but edible sugar cane is solid and juicy inside rather than a hollow ornamental cane.
Storage & handling
- Purchase food-grade sugar cane from a trusted produce seller.
- Scrub the stalk before cutting and use a sturdy knife on a stable cutting board.
- Cut away the hard outer rind before chewing or juicing.
- Chew only to extract the juice and discard the tough fibers rather than swallowing them.
- Fresh pressed juice is perishable; refrigerate promptly and drink soon after preparation.
3 Ways to Cook Sugar Cane
Fresh Lime-Ginger Sugar Cane JuiceA bright drink made from pressed sugar cane, lime and ginger.+
Ingredients
- Enough peeled sugar cane to produce 4 cups juice
- Juice of 2 limes
- 1-inch piece fresh ginger
- Ice
Instructions
- Scrub the sugar cane and carefully remove the hard outer rind.
- Cut the cane into lengths that fit a food-safe sugar-cane press.
- Press the cane with the ginger, following the machine manufacturer's directions.
- Stir the lime juice into the extracted juice.
- Strain if desired and serve immediately over ice.
- Refrigerate any remaining juice promptly.
Recipe adapted from Traditional Caldo de Cana Method
Vietnamese Sugar Cane ShrimpSeasoned shrimp paste wrapped around sugar-cane sticks and grilled.+
Ingredients
- 1 pound peeled raw shrimp
- 2 garlic cloves
- 1 tablespoon fish sauce
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- 1 egg white
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- 8 peeled sugar-cane sticks
- Oil for brushing
Instructions
- Pat the shrimp dry and pulse them in a food processor with garlic, fish sauce, sugar, egg white and cornstarch until sticky.
- Chill the mixture for 20 minutes.
- Wet or oil your hands and press an even layer of shrimp mixture around the center of each sugar-cane stick.
- Brush lightly with oil.
- Grill over medium heat, turning often, until the shrimp is opaque and reaches 145 degrees F.
- Serve with herbs, lettuce, rice noodles or dipping sauce.
- Chew the exposed cane gently for juice if desired, but discard the fibers.
Recipe adapted from The Daily Star
Fruit Skewers on Sugar CaneFresh fruit threaded onto edible sugar-cane sticks and quickly grilled.+
Ingredients
- 8 peeled sugar-cane sticks
- 2 cups pineapple chunks
- 2 cups mango chunks
- 1 cup strawberries
- 1 tablespoon lime juice
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- Pinch of cinnamon
Instructions
- Cut the fruit into even bite-size pieces.
- Carefully thread the fruit onto the peeled sugar-cane sticks.
- Mix the lime juice, brown sugar and cinnamon.
- Brush the mixture lightly over the fruit.
- Grill over medium-high heat for about 5 minutes, turning until lightly charred.
- Serve warm or at room temperature.
- Chew the cane only to extract juice and discard its fibers.
Recipe adapted from Goya Foods
Want Sugar Cane in your box?
Every Belle Nature CSA box is grown in Farmington, MN, harvested within 24 hours of delivery, and comes with recipes like these. Reserve your 12-week farm share for the Twin Cities.
A CSA farm in Farmington, MN delivering farm-fresh, seasonal vegetable boxes across Minneapolis, St. Paul & the Twin Cities metro.
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