konjac

plural konjacs · alternative konjak · alternative konjaku · alternative konnyaku

1. uncountableusuallyA foul-smelling plant grown in Asia, Amorphophallus konjac.

   Synonyms: devil's tongue, elephant yam, snake palm, voodoo lily

2. uncountableusuallyAny of various food products made from the plant, including a flour and a gelatin, used to make noodles and candies, and as a food supplement for weight reduction.

   Vrimp – a plant-based take on shrimp […]. Made from seaweed, peas and konjac root and shaped using specialist moulds, it is being trialled in its native Switzerland first.

   2021 October 16, Zoe Wood, “Faux fish: vegan alternatives set to take UK market by storm”, in The Guardian, →ISSN

   1 more example

   Waitrose buyers are predicting the growing popularity of konjac, an Asian root vegetable which has an edible tuber already used to make pasta, lasagne sheets and “rice” noodles and, increasingly, vegan versions of faux fish and seafood. Konjac powder – renowed for its distinctive “fishy” smell – along with pea and potato starch and alginate (extracted from seaweed) is a key ingredient in the new vegan “smoked salmon” product.

   2019 January 5, Rebecca Smithers, “Something smells fishy. Is it the vegan smoked salmon – made with potatoes?”, in The Observer, →ISSN