Tuesday, April 12, 2011
Field of greens
Look out there, do you see those little yellow flowers poking up out of the grass? Look around your own yard, there's a good chance they are dotting it with gold too... Those are Dandelions, one of the most misunderstood and underutilized plants in America. In other places around the world the flowers, roots, and greens of this plant have been consumed for many many years as food and medicine for various ailments. They were brought over by Europeans as a food crop but now most people kill them as weeds not realizing they have this wonderful food source.. an unintentional, maintenance free vegetable growing in their yard. Luckily modern technology has made wisdom available to all in the way of informative websites with hundred of dandelion recipies, medicinal use info, and nutritional content breakdowns. Who knew this unassuming "weed" was a wonder-food? It's superlatively nutritious compared to all other greens, not to mention it's tasty! You can eat the greens raw in salad, or sauteed like spinach.. the flowers can be fried, sauteed, or made into wine... and the root can be eaten like carrot or turnip and roasted to be made into coffee. The whole plant also makes a very nice medicinal tea. I went browsing the yard today and collected a nice batch of greens and flowers to make into a little meal. This is what I ended up with before washing:
I decided to saute the greens with olive oil, onion, salt and pepper. I also sprinkled on a bit of JD's Bacon Salt (a vegetarian bacon flavoured seasoning powder). I fried the little blossoms with a coating of onion powder, salt, and pepper. I used them like a garnish on the greens to ad little bursts of flavour. This is the finished dish:
The blossoms and leaves shrink significantly during cooking but what you are left with is a divine little treat! The leaves can have a slightly bitter aftertaste but you can subvert that by using the youngest leaves from the center of the plant, you can also boil them before use and that will release the bitterness too. I personally think the bitterness adds something to a dish. I'd highly recommend you go forage around your own yard and get in on the dandelion action!
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