One man's Weed is another mans Cuisine
Springtime is the right time, here in the
south, to gather those greens! Take a walk on the wild salad, as it were. Although GREEN
really doesn’t describe a wild salad very well, because they can be quite colorful.
Many of the wild flowers blooming right now are edible and quite tasty, not to mention
very good for you! Always gather your salad fixins early in the morning, while the dew is
still on the plants. This is to insure that they will be fresh and crispy. Rinse them in
two changes of cold water and keep them refrigerated, some will keep for days.
Caution must be advised however, know what you are
gathering.
A good place to find out is http://www.altnature.com/gallery/index.html just
type in edible in the search this page box and you get a list of edible plants with good
quality photos and some recipes.
Some good suggestions are, Violets-flowers and leaves are edible. Dandelions-flowers and leaves, and try battering and
deep-frying the flowers, then just toss them right in. Watercress-
young leaves only and not a large amount to one salad, they are strong tasting and packed
with vitamins as well as minerals. Young Yarrow leaves
add a sage taste to the salad. Wild Carrot leaves
and roots are tender and tasty right now. Spring Beauty leaves, flowers and root or corm
has a pleasant nutty flavor high in vitamins A and C. Lyre-leaved sage is not very strong tasting,
and has a rather pleasant minty flavor, fresh young leaves are edible in salads colorful
too, adding reddish tint. Chickweeds are very
nutritious and easy to find in abundance. Purple Dead Nettle (dead because it doesn’t
sting) plants tops are tender and have purple flowers to spruce up your salad. Hey! Having
trouble with those spring allergies, try some Ground
ivy in that salad it will work on those mucus membranes that are so inflamed, also
very pretty and has a light taste, very agreeable in salads. Spearmint, young sprouts are coming up right now, and
talk about tasty, just right to top off a salad, and for a refreshing cool drink on the
side! YUMMM! I know what’s for supper tonight!
Deb Jackson
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