What qualifies as a weed ? For some people, they are nothing more than unwanted plants that take root in their yard and create a nuisance that must be removed immediately. For the more creative, this wild flora growing in your backyard can appear as a new dish for dinner.
WEEDS THAT CAN SERVE AS FOOD
And what does it mean? It means that some of these weeds are edible and can offer benefits to the human body. So, check out these six plants that you normally find around and that may appear in your diet in the future!
- Dandelion
Of all the weeds on this list, dandelion is by far the one that would most likely appear on a restaurant menu. Although its leaves can be bitter, they have pungent properties and are even tastier when the plant is harvested young.
Dandelion leaves are commonly chopped and sprinkled on salads , but you can also eat the roots and yellow petals. If cooked and fermented, this herb can help with wine production.
- Purslane
Also called eleven-hour, purslane is a very delicious and very nutritious plant. To give you an idea, its composition is rich in vitamins A and Cm in addition to omega-3 fatty acids. With thick, juicy leaves, this weed is described as a cross between spinach and okra.
Therefore, if you are looking for a different flavor for your salad, know that purslane can come in handy.
- Morugem
Instead of tearing off the tiny leaves of chickweed, also called starweed, you’ll want to harvest the entire stem to add to your salads. Its leaves are soft like spinach, but with a flavor more like parsley or corn silk. This weed grows in thick, extensive patches, which makes it easy to harvest enough for the next meal.
- Violet-blue
Although some people consider it a beautiful decorative flower, the blue violet has a very aggressive behavior that makes it classified as a weed. However, it can also be excellent for food.
Both the flower and the leaves are perfectly safe for consumption and can appear in a variety of salads. Additionally, you can try adding violet petals as a colorful garnish to a delicious dessert.
- Honeysuckle
Honeysuckle is a climbing plant native to Asia, but can be found in other parts of the planet. In general, they are plants that have very sweet nectar. To consume them properly, we can ferment their flower with a little sugar, water and lemon juice in a glass jar.
After a few days, you will have a completely delicious sweet and carbonated drink. But remember: only consume the flower, because the rest of the plant is considered poisonous to humans.
- Wild garlic
Wild garlic has some similarities to leeks, onions and common garlic, but it is still considered a weed. Its long leaves look like sharp blades and are always connected to the garlic bulbs that grow underground.
This bulb can be cut and used in place of regular garlic, while its leaves make a great ingredient for pesto sauce. However, pay attention when harvesting them, because wild garlic can easily be confused with lily of the valley, which is highly toxic to us. Therefore, the strong smell of garlic should help you during this task.