Foraging
Dandelion is probably one of the most recognizable plants on the planet. Despite the fact that it is often scorned as a lawn weed, the dandelion is a nutritious powerhouse. It is a source of vitamins A, B, C, and D, as well as minerals such as iron, potassium, and zinc.
The entire plant is usable; the roots can be dried and used as a coffee substitute, young leaves are eaten raw and make a fantastic dandelion leaf pesto, or cooked like spinach, and the flowers are often used to make wine or dandelion fritters.
My friend Kathy grew up harvesting dandelion – both the greens and the flowers. Here’s what she has to say about picking and cleaning the greens:
Use a paring knife and cut the plant out of the ground in a circular motion retaining some of the root, keeping the plant intact. To clean it, first pick off dried or dead leaves, grass, weeds, and flowers (I usually try to pick before it’s blooming.). Then holding it upside down in my fist, I cut the root off with a little of the leaf stems. I then take the knife and scrape across the cut stems. This brings out any buds, bugs, dirt, etc. Then I toss the cleaned leaves into a sink full of water. When I’m finished cleaning all I’ve picked, I swish it around in the water and scoop it into a colander to drain it.
Eating Dandelions
Dandelion leaves may be tossed with other greens in a salad and are considered a digestive aid. We enjoyed them this week simply sautéed in bacon fat. Young dandelion greens are low in oxalic acid, so there’s no need to blanch them first. Blanching does help to reduce the bitterness of older leaves.
How to forage and use dandelion!
Here are a few recipes to try:
Greens
Dandelion Greens with Ramps, Bacon and Blue Cheese
Flowers
Dandelion and Violet Pink Lemonade
Roots
Black Magic Chocolate Cake with Dandelion Root Coffee
Skin Care
Dandelion Killer
Perhaps you wouldn’t mind foraging for dandelion, but prefer to do that somewhere other than your lawn. According to the June/July 2013 issue of Organic Gardening Magazine:
The dandelion, at once the most hated and nutritious weed of all, is a bio-accumulator with a deep taproot that draws calcium to the surface. … If the lawn’s topsoil has plenty of calcium, dandelions are less likely to take root there. Ten pounds of high-calcium limestone, gypsum, or wood ash per 1,000 square feet can often make up for a calcium deficiency.
So, instead of looking for a dandelion killer, why not try adding more calcium to your lawn?
