Many people consider dandelions to be nuisance on their otherwise pristine lawn , but this could n’t be further from the Sojourner Truth . These friendly small plants with their cheery blossoms and jagged leave havemanydifferent wonderful property . Check out some of the best ways to utilize blowball below !
We ’ve corralled them into three categories : food , medicine , and multifaceted other use around the homestead .
I Thought Dandelions Were Just Weeds!?
This mindset only start to wave after WWII . Up until then , dandelion were naturalise as invaluable food for thought sources as well as medicine . In fact , blowball have been treasured for both of these uses for thousands of years .
The ancient Greeks , Romans , and Egyptians loved them dearly , and they ’ve been used in traditional Formosan medicament since at least the 800s .
They ’re ball of fire of nutrition , pack with iron , vitamin C , vitamin A , potassium , and calcium . Before citrus fruit became promptly available , blowball ( and evergreen plant phonograph needle ) were people ’s go - to for fending off scurvy .
Use Dandelion as Food
The name “ dandelion ” comes from the Gallic “ dent Diamond State social lion “ , mean “ lion ’s teeth ” . This refer to the leave ’s erose , serrate edge .
They were used in European culinary art for M of years and in all likelihood brought to the UK as a food for thought source by both Roman and Norman conquerors . In turn , pilgrims brought them to North America on the Mayflower , and they ’ve been spreading themselves around the continent ever since .
As mentioned earlier , these plants are dead pack with nutrients . moreover , they ’re immensely versatile and can be incorporate into your diet in a variety of different ways .
1. Sauteed or Braised
Dandelion leaves are quite bitter , but you’re able to eliminate some of the bitterness by boiling or blanching them before sauteing .
merely toss chop leaves into boiling urine and permit them simmer for 2–3 minute of arc . filter them through a colander , then channelise them to a heated pan . Drizzle with olive petroleum , toss in garlic and saltiness , and toss them around a bit .
Once they ’re tippy and warm up through , they ’re ready to go . Serve them on top of pasta or rice , contribute them to soup , or just enjoy them as they are .
Another option is to retard - braise them with other commons . I like to braise them in my carbon black pot with shred collards , kale , chard , and Spinacia oleracea . Once they ’re all slurpy , I put forward in a fleck of big emollient and parmesan and have at it with a spoonful .
2. Raw in Salads, Juices, etc.
brisk dandelion leaf are quite bitter , but also have a sassy , immature savour . you may add them raw to salads and juice to add both spirit and nutrient . That said , their tartness is considerably poise by other , complimentary flavors .
For example , consider mixing dandelion green with other greens such as spinach and kale . Counterbalance their gall with sweeter fruits like tomato plant , gratifying peppers , or watermelon . Sweet dressings like fruit French dressing also turn exceptionally well .
3. Pickled Dandelion Bud Capers
When dandelion heyday start to organise , they come out as bud from the plant life ’s heart and soul peak , at the dirt level . You ’ve probably see these little round heads emerge from between the leaf before . If you nibble those off while they ’re still tightly formed , you may make caper !
You just take to pack a jolt full of buds , which is n’t difficult to do , as dandelions areprolific . Then make a brine of 3/4 tablespoon ocean salinity dissolved in 1 cup of water . Add finely minced Allium sativum , possibly a couple of pepper , and whatever other herbs or spice you ’d like . I ’m a dill fiend , so I toss that into anything I pickle .
Pour the brine over the buds so they ’re fully cover . Now , they ’re going to float , so you ’re extend to have to press them down a bit . I use a fairly shallowtea strainerfilled with somepie weightsto do this .
Then hatch that with a few layers of cheesecloth and secure it in place . Leave this jarful on the counter for 5 to 8 days until the buds are ferment and soured to your preferred taste sensation .
This type oflacto - fermentationis most often used for sauerkraut , and creates a lovely salty / sour spirit .
4. Fried Blossom Fritters
This would be at the top of my list when it come up to the honorable way to use dandelions . Not only are these fritters absolutely delectable , they just make me experience felicitous when I rust them . They ’re gay and bright , with a sweet - savoury look and amazingly satisfying compaction .
Use your favorite batter recipe to coat the blossoms and jactitate the in hot petroleum .
5. Pesto
We often make what I lovingly refer to as “ yard pesto ” as it ’s mostly made from foraged items . It ’s one of the easiest condiment to create , as you could pitch all mode of thing together , zizz them in a blender with some oil and ail , and voila ! You have a spread for pledge , a sauce for gnocchi or alimentary paste , or a expectant dip .
This is a groovy canonical recipe fordandelion pesto , but like all recipes , the good version are those we correct for ourselves . My favorite combo also contains , basil , lambsquarters , purslane , in effect olive oil color , ParmigianoReggiano cheese , and pine testis .
6. Dried Leaf Chips
Do you like kale chips ? Then consider taste dandelion leaf chips as well ! I make them in my dehydrator , but you may also use an oven or melodic line fryer .
rupture the leaves into bite - sized piece , then chuck with a spoonful of olive oil , and whatever seasonings you like . My pet combo is just salt and nutritional yeast , but the combination are almost endless . ( judge them with dill pickle popcorn seasoning ! )
fan out them out onto your dehydrator racks and dry out them out at 145 ° degree Fahrenheit for 60 - 90 minutes . Then bring down the heat to 115 - 120 ° F and keep drying for at least another three hours . Check them at that point to see if they ’re juiceless / sharp . If not , keep drying one minute at a time until they ’ve reached optimal crispitude .
8. Powdered Greens
One of my favorite ways to preserve spring and summertime greens is topowder them . Dehydrating the leave on low heat proceed most of their nutrient intact , as well as their vibrant green hues .
Once they ’re dry enough to crumble between your fingers , blitz them in a food processor or burnt umber molar . channelize the powder to a jar , keep it in a dry location , and add the gunpowder to soups and smoothies whenever desire .
9. Roasted Roots for Coffee/Tea
roast dandelion etymon make an utterly gorgeous beverage . They taste like caramel , and can either be enjoy on their own , or mixed with coffee grinds to raise the flavor .
You ’ll want to dig up dandelion roots in spring before they blossom . Once they ’ve mature a bit , their roots get woody and sturdy . essentially , they ’ve pushed all their happy tang and food up into the aerial parts above the soil . bush radical thoroughly with a brush , pat dry , and cut into half - column inch pieces .
or else , you’re able to grease one’s palms dry out dandelion root online from a good herb provision company . I order from Mountain Rose when I ’m in the States , and Herbie ’s Herbs when I ’m in Canada .
Heat your oven to 350 ° F , and fan out the ascendant out on a parchment - trace baking sheet . If you ’re using new ascendant , blackguard them for about 40 to 50 minutes , depending on how hot your oven gets .
For dry out roots , you should n’t have to make fun them longer than 12 to 15 minutes . You ’re aiming for them to be dry and toasty , not scorched .
From here , you have two alternative : engulf them in live water to make teatime , or dig them to tot to your coffee bean . I opt to do the latter . For this method acting , powderize them in a coffee torpedo , then immix with priming coffee in a 1:4 ratio .
10. Soups and Stews
Every exclusive part of the dandelion plant is edible , but the roots are quite woody . As such , use all the aerial parts ( as in , whatever is grow above ground ) to make a creamy , sweetened / savory , nourishing - dense soup ! Trythis formula , or toy with the constituent to make it your own .
I have it away to add shredded blowball to grudge - like beauty for both extra food and a touch of bitterness . Try adding a handful to ramen noodle soup sometime and you ’ll see what I intend !
11. Dandelion Wine
My godfather used to make this stuff , and it was absolutely idealistic . If you ’ve never made dandelion wine before , consider make some ! We even have ahandy articleon how to make it .
Use Dandelions as Medicine and Home Goods
Whether you take them internally or use them outwardly , dandelions have many economic consumption in your medication console .
12. Tonic Tea
Dandelion Camellia sinensis has legion medicative benefits as well . In fact , of the best ways to use blowball is as a quinine water herbaceous plant . For example , its aerial part ( leaves , prow , and flowers ) have great diuretic properties . This mean that it can aid to eliminate spare H2O being held in the consistency ( e.g. bloating and edema ) .
Many healing constituents in blowball are excellent for kidney and liver health .
Dandelions aid with bile production , and advertise urination . As such , they help to level toxins out of the body . Additionally , dandelions ’ inulin content makes them ideal for bowel health , and their anti - incitive effects help to promote overall wellbeing .
As an added fillip , blowball appear to inhibit pancreatic lipase . [ 1 ] This helps to advertise weight expiration , and is foretell as a potential intervention to battle obesity .
13. Dried Leaves
dry out herbs can be sprinkled on food as an appetite stimulation . They also can help with a gently upset stomach and work as a mild laxative . field in animals have show that the herb can also help mold stock saccharide .
14. Soap
dandelion have lots of mineral and vitamins , so put them to ferment on your skin by making blowball soap . Start with outguide to ready soapand add in fresh dandelion petal and or fossil oil .
15. Salve
A salve made from dandelions is excellent for soothing the skin . To make a balm , combine one part dandelion rock oil with five parts beeswax
Additional Homestead Uses
In summation to being invaluable as nutrient and medicine , dandelions can also be used around the homestead !
16. Forage for Herbivore Animal Companions
My lapin loves natural spring and summer because of all the new wild greens he fetch to nom on . The leaves and blossom are secure for him and are also great food for thought sources for greaseball pigs , degus , and several other small pets .
to boot , you’re able to dry up dandelion leafage to use as winter silage for herbivorous stock and other farm creature . Bos taurus , goat , and sheep make love to eat dandelion , and some horse enjoy them as well . Just make certain to dry them good . Then add together them to hay for casual snack .
Dry your dandelions with the same technique you ’d employ for the cow dung mentioned above . Then store them in airtight containers in a dry placement until you ’re quick to dish up them up .
17. Soil Amendment
Did you love that dandelions are an idealistic cover craw to fill again your fields ? In fact , using them to help repair your soil is one of the best path to utilize dandelions outside of the kitchen . These plant demand disquieted soil and plenty of Lord’s Day to thrive , making them perfect for restore tired , spent areas .
disseminate the seeds munificently in former spring so their long , deep tap roots can break up compacted soil over the summer . Then let the bloom go to seminal fluid and ego - sow . If you do , you may get three full bloom from this crop between former spring and late fall .
seek to catch the last batch before the blooms go to seed , and pout them all down . permit the clipping decrease where they put down and allow them to decompose over the winter . Their root will part down beneath the aerofoil , adding vital nutrient to the territory they ’ve helped to break up . Meanwhile , the leave-taking will add excess nutrients from above , as well as mulchy wet .
As you may see , the best way to use blowball also happen to be some of the tastiest . If you have n’t felt too fondly about these plant before , please give them another luck . They ’re wonderful footling friends , and offer far more good than pain .
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