What Can I Make With Dandelions?

[Denim Deb]

If I can find a place to get a bunch of dandelions that aren't sprayed, I just might have to try this.

 

[txcanoegirl]

Baymule, you want recipes, you got recipes!!!

Disclaimer: I have not tried any of these recipes! If you try any of them, let us know how they turned out. I once made fritters from redbud blossoms and they were delicious, so I know the unusual can be very tasty!

1. Dandelion cookies: http://www.splendidtable.org/recipes/dandelion-flower-cookies

2. Fried Dandelions, Appalachian Style: http://allrecipes.com/recipe/fried-dandelions-appalachian-style/

3. Mixed Greens: copied from "Stalking the Healthful Herbs" by Euell Gibbons
"Winter-cress, dandelion greens, nettle greens, and curled dock are all in season at the same time that violet leaves are at their best. I have tried cooking all these greens in many combinations, and find them all palatable. All five mixed together, boiled and seasoned with a little crisp bacon and finely chopped raw onion, make a delicious blend of Mixed Greens, and this is probably one of the most nutritious vegetable dishes that can be devised."

4. Dandelion Pesto: http://www.davidlebovitz.com/2011/03/dandelion-pesto-recipe/

5. Dandelion Jelly: http://the3foragers.blogspot.com/2011/05/dandelion-recipe-dandelion-jelly.html

6. Dandelion Salad: http://allrecipes.com/recipe/dandelion-salad/

7. Dandelion Salad: copied from "New Age Herbalist" by Richard Mabey
1 small lettuce
3 oz watercress
4 oz radishes
2 oz young dandelion leaves
4 spring onions
4 tbs chopped parsley
freshly ground black pepper
4 oz seaweed (optional)
2 tbs olive oil
2 tbs cider vinegar

Shred lettuce, chop the watercress, slice the radishes and chop the dandelion leaves and spring onions. Mix them together in a salad bowl, seasoning with the pepper. Chop the seaweed. Heat the oil in a frying pan on medium heat. Put in the seaweed and cook it, stirring frequently until it browns. Take the pan from the heat and swirl in the vinegar. Spoon the contents of the pan over the salad. Toss them into the vegetables and serve immediately.

8. Dandelion Lemonade: http://www.learningherbs.com/dandelion_recipe.html

9. ...and the big bonanza of Dandelion recipes ALL IN ONE PLACE:
http://www.eattheweeds.com/dandelions-hear-them-roar/
This is one of my favorite places to get info about what's edible in my yard.
Green Deane includes recipes for:
Dandelion Wine
Dandelion Burgers
Dandelion Blossom Bread
Cream of Dandelion Soup
Pumpkin-Dandelion Soup
Dandelion Egg Salad
Dandelion Pasta Salad
Split Pea-Dandelion Soup
Dandelion Blossom Syrup
Dandelion Baklava
Dandelion Blossom Cake
Dandelion Blossom Pancakes
Dandelion Cornbread
Dandelion Mustard
Dandelion Vinaigrette
Dandelion Chai
Dandelion Chai 2
Roasted Dandelion Root Coffee Ice Cream
Dandelion and Burdock Beer
Dandelion Soft Drink.

And as a side note, according to one of my books, Dandelion is believed to increase psychic powers! And be warned that it's known to have strong diuretic powers!

 

[baymule]

And I found a site with 30 wine recipes.

http://winemaking.jackkeller.net/dandelion.asp


From Mother Earth News
Dandelion Wine Recipe

Early in the morning when the dew is on the flowers, pick one gallon of perfect, open dandelion blossoms.

Put the flowers in a two gallon or larger open crock and pour boiling water over them. Cover the crock with cheesecloth and let it sit at room temperature for three days. Then squeeze all the juice outta the flowers, throw them away and save the liquid.

Put the liquid into a big pot and add:

3 lbs. sugar (we used brown raw sugar for healthiness but next time we'll try honey for healthierness. The nice lady used white (ugh) sugar.)
3 or 4 lemons, juice, skin, seeds, etc., all chopped up.
3 or 4 oranges, chopped

Boil mixture for 30 minutes with top on pot, cool to lukewarm, pour into crock and add 1 1/2 or 2 packages or tablespoons of yeast. Cover with cheesecloth and let brew sit for two or three weeks 'til the bubbling stops and whammy!

Filter through cheesecloth to strain out chunks and save vitamins. Bottle.


Read more: http://www.motherearthnews.com/real-food/dandelion-wine-recipe-zmaz70sozgoe.aspx#ixzz2QOptWx3p


Dandelion Wine

The following recipe was transcribed ver batim from the booklet,

Fleischmann's Recipes

1915

Pour one gallon of boiling water over three quarts of dandelion flowers. Lets stand twenty-four hours. Strain and add five pounds of light brown sugar, juice and rind of two lemons, juice and rind of two oranges. Let boil ten minutes and strain. When cold, add half a cake of FLEISCHMANN'S YEAST. Put in crock and let stand until it commences to work. Then bottle and put corks in loose to let it work. In each bottle put one raisin, after it stops working. Cork tight.

And this one has PICTURES!!

http://www.donosborn.com/homebrew/dandelion.htm

 

[hqueen13]

My friend just posted his dandelion jelly recipe. I haven't tried it yet, but he said its great!

Urban Forager Dandelion Preserves
(makes about two pints)
2 cups dandelion blossoms, separated from leaves and bracts
2 cups water
1 cup sugar
2 teaspoons lemon juice
1 teaspoons pectin

1. Boil flowers in water on medium heat for about 10 minutes.
2. Strain petals from liquid and return liquid to pot to boil.
3. Add sugar, lemon juice and pectin, following your particular pectins instructions.
4. Boil and stir vigorously with a wooden spoon, skimming the foam, until the top surface becomes blobby and glasslike (2 or more minutes).

(Canning is a whole separate art involving boiling, filling the jar with preserves and reboiling which those of us who didnt grow up in canning families need to learn from jam masters, so Ill leave that to you to learn how to do on your own.)

 

[baymule]

Thanks Hqueen!! I have been picking the flowers in my garden every morning, anywhere from 20-60 of them. I pull the petals out and spread them to dry on wax paper. When I get enough, I will make jelly and let ya'll know how yummy it is.

 

[Denim Deb]

Today I noticed that there's a ton of dandelions growing in the field next to the farm. And, I can probably get enough out of there to make jelly. So, I just might have to try this.

 

[hqueen13]

Let me know how it goes! I get frowned upon when there are too many dendelions in my yard :/
Going to do it someday!

 

[Denim Deb]

I'm hoping I can get them picked early next week. I'm not sure how long it will be B4 they cut that field.

 

[baymule]

I picked dandelion blooms for an hour today. I got 800 flowers.....yep, I counted them!

Then I pulled petals for about an hour and a half. DH even helped! We both are getting pretty good at being petal pullers! 800 flowers makes 6 cups of petals. I put them in the freezer, I'll make jelly later this week.

 

[frustratedearthmother]

All I can say is.... WOW! Hope the jelly turns out great!