PrintRamps: "highly cathartic" -- what the?
So I picked up some ramps at the market today after hearing a lot of hype. Doing a little searching now for some way to fix them, and came across the following description:
"ramps present an exquisite balance between pain and pleasure. They are delicious and addictive — but beware, they are also highly cathartic."
Can anyone tell me what this means? My husband gets the occasional heartburn, more from onions, not from leeks. Am I going to kill him? (I'm not trying to.)
Also, any recommended dishes, etc. are welcome.
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12 Comments:
Basically it means you will experience an emotional therapeutic experience. I have never had a ramp do that for me. I will, however, be on the edge of my sofa until you report back!
crazyspice at 3:57PM on 04/05/08
I think whomever wrote that sentence was attempting to make an allusion to the intestinal process.
There's a ramp festival somewhat near me happening next month. I was thinking of going.
But now, with these worries about everyone in the crown being all cathartic and all, I might have to reconsider.
Karen Resta at 4:13PM on 04/05/08
Oh, I do know what catharsis is, sorry for the confusion. But I wonder about its use in reference to a member of the onion family.
I look forward to eating them, probably with a simple spaghetti. But I am unsure about serving them to the spouse. So far, I still like him being my spouse. But sometimes, if the onions aren't deeply cooked, he does think I am trying to kill him.
renzata at 4:16PM on 04/05/08
It's an intestinal thing? I thought it might be. Do you mean gas? The runs?
It's a minor pet peeve of mine. People refer to "tummy troubles" or something equally vague. I need to know what sort of tummy troubles. Heatburn, gas, diarrhea, constipation? I'm not asking for details or descriptions, of course, just identification.
renzata at 4:19PM on 04/05/08
Here's an article that mentions the tummy thing . No, I won't be more specific. :)
I would imagine that it depends on individual tolerance. And who knows that before one tries?
They are weed-like, though - and many weeds are strong-tasting and strong-acting. No milquetoast baby zucchini, is the ramp. No, no, no.
Karen Resta at 4:52PM on 04/05/08
The term cathartic relative to foods and/or other orally consumed goods, generally refers to the substance's laxative qualities. Some cathartics are not technically laxatives so much as substances that stimulate a quicker bowel movement, but usually even those still have some laxative qualities.
Epsom salts are often specifically labeled with the word "cathartic" in the indications panel.
Depending on what chemical process causes the ramps to be cathartic, and how much of the cathartic substance they contain, it may take quite a lot of them to actually have any laxative effects. I'm unfamiliar with them, so I can't tell you much more.
LoCo at 4:55PM on 04/05/08
I wasn't about to bring up "that" definition! But I will add, I believe you would have to be a marathon eater to retire to the "throne"!
crazyspice at 5:00PM on 04/05/08
Wow LoCo, I didn't know cathartic had a special food/consumed good meaning. Very, very good to know.
Well, if it's not a heartburn issue, I might be able to feed it to him. And not too much to either of us, never having eaten them before. My farmers' market mojo is a little deflated.
And I bought 2 bunches. Poo.
renzata at 5:35PM on 04/05/08
@renz... not to prolong a possibly unpleasant conversation, but I did a little more checking... I found only three types of allium (plants in the garlic and onion family) consistently described as cathartics, and all of those are described as being only mildly cathartic. Ramps or wild leeks -- either Allium tricoccum or Allium ampeloprasum -- never seem to come up, although a very strong tonic made of A. tricoccum can be used as an emetic (induces vomiting), which could be a source of confusion.
The confusion may also be with one form of allium referred to as wild garlic or Canadian garlic. It's frequently listed as having cathartic properties.
Also, nearly all alliums, especially those resembling garlic, are recognized as effective for getting rid of parasites (e.g., worms, etc.). This use could easily be confused with catharsis, too, since the... um... let's say "mechanics" are similar.
Anyway... I did have a point... you should be able to partake of these without too many worries of discomfort. I know you'll let us know what you do and share your results!
LoCo at 8:50PM on 04/05/08
I'd consider the usage to be medical rather than gastronomic, but that's my education coming to the fore. Catharsis refers to an expulsion, so it can be used for many situations, from tears and emotions to bodily functions. But yes, laxatives were referred to as cathartics many years ago.
Those Greek dramatists and physicians used to go drinking together after work, and came up with the root word together, they tell me. (And if you believe that, I have a lovely bridge to sell you.)
lemons at 11:06AM on 04/06/08
Yes, of course I believe you, lemons. I was there. And in later years Juvenal wrote a poem about ramps which he dedicated to his own drinking buddies. He thought of dedicating it to me but I dissuaded him.
I am grateful for this discussion in particular because there are two words that I can never call to mind when I need them. Cathartic is one; epiphany is the other. Apparently my mind does not like to think of quick or sudden movements for it can go blank for hours when I try to remember either of these words when I need them.
renzata, your husband who you do not want to poison at this date would know ramps as raiponce. They grow in parts of France also but of course not in Paris.
Karen Resta at 12:13PM on 04/06/08
LoCo, I really appreciate your research. I know it's a little gross, but knowledge is power, etc.
You know, I was looking for details myself, and I begin to wonder whether or not the buggers actually are ramps. The leaves on mine are very, very narrow, almost straight, and the ramp photos I see are broader and have purple coloring between the bulb and the leaves. I was a little nervous that maybe I was sold the wild garlic under the name of ramps.
In any event, I relied on the info everyone has been to helpful to provide, and I proceeded to make a gratin from that same NYTimes story
http://travel2.nytimes.com/2006/04/14/travel/escapes/14ramps.html
I didn't have any special cheese, just used a chedder/jack blend from the fridge. It was really delicious. The husband was a fan, but he asked why I put leeks in it. So maybe they were ramps?
Anyhoo, gratin is finished, but I still have a few bulbs left. And no troubles, so far as I am aware.
Thanks everyone, this has been very educational for me.
renzata at 1:48PM on 04/06/08