dandelion... edible... how?? :s - Diet & Nutrition Message Board

justanothagirl · 02-07-2005, 10:25 AM

You know, those yellow flowers in the grass. We treat them as weed. I had no idea you could eat them. How do you eat them? Do you cook the leaves? Or do you eat it raw? And is it super healthy? Or even healthy at all? Or I dont know whats it good for? Thanks...

tdot · 02-07-2005, 01:44 PM

I've had dandelion before. You eat the leaves, not the flower! And I think you have to actually buy it from the grocery store as if you ate the ones from your lawn, you may get sick! They taste pretty good, like spinach and I assume they are healthy - green leafy veg. I just checked one of my books and it says this about dandelion - "The name dandelion comes from the French dents des lions meaning teeth of lion and describing the leaves. Dandelion leaves are good sources of iron, copper and can be used in fresh salads. Dandelion "coffee" can be made from the chopped and roasted roots."

Hope that helps!

Lenin · 02-07-2005, 02:13 PM

My father was crazy for dandelion. He picked the smallest plants in the Spring with the yellowish/whitish/greenish innards and tossed them with oil vinegar and sliced HB egg.
I LOVED it as a kid.

I imagine the older leaves could be sauteed in oil and garlic like any edible green.

Dandelion is a bitter herb (like escarole) and some people don't care for it.

For the flowers, best you can do is get a HUGE quantity, cover with water and sugar and ferment to a very sweet wine.

justanothagirl · 02-07-2005, 02:54 PM

ohhhhh okay thanks you guys! So I can just pick them from the garden and if they're young (do they have flowers yet or still a leaf bud or something... or the stuff you blow away? sorry my english isnt very good) then I can eat the raw, if they're older (so is that when the yellow flower comes out) I should sauté it. Thanks!!!

Do I eat the stalk too? No, right? Just the leaves. Okay thanks man.

veggie girl · 02-07-2005, 09:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by justanothagirl

You know, those yellow flowers in the grass. We treat them as weed. I had no idea you could eat them. How do you eat them? Do you cook the leaves? Or do you eat it raw? And is it super healthy? Or even healthy at all? Or I dont know whats it good for? Thanks...

You can drink it as tea!! I actually drink dandelion tea - its suposed to be good for detox.

When I was a kid we used to drink a soda called Dandelion and Burdock. Those herbs have been used in europe for centuries to cure anything and everything.