It’s almost spring, which means some people are stocking up on Round Up and Weed-B-Gon to prepare themselves for battle against my favorite flower – the humble dandelion. If you’re not as big a fan as I am of these yellow-headed “weeds”, which grow in lawns and sunny open spaces throughout the world, I know of a great way to get rid of them. Eat them.
Every part of the dandelion is edible – leaves, roots, and flowers. And they are nutritional power-houses. They’re rich in beta-carotene, fiber, potassium, iron, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, B vitamins, and protein.
Over the years, dandelions have been used as cures for countless conditions including:
- kidney stones
- acne
- high blood pressure
- obesity
- diarrhea
- high cholesterol
- anemia
- cancer
- diabetes
- stomach pain
- hepatitis
“There is probably no existing condition that would not benefit from regularly consuming dandelions,” Joyce A Wardwell writes in The Herbal Home Remedy Book.
She also says that dandelion is “one herb to allow yourself the full range of freedom to explore,” because it has “no known cautionary drug interactions, cumulative toxic effects, or contraindications for use.”
So why not harvest the dandelions in your yard this spring? And I’m sure your neighbors wouldn’t mind if you uprooted some of theirs too. (But you probably want to avoid harvesting near streets or from lawns where herbicides or fertilizers are used.)
The leaves
Dandelion leaves have more beta-carotene than carrots and more iron and calcium than spinach. The best time to harvest them is early spring, before the flowers appear, because that’s when they’re the least bitter.
How can you eat dandelion leaves?
- Toss them in salads
- Steam them
- Saute them with garlic, onions, and olive oil
- Infuse them with boiling water to make a tea
- Dry them to use for tea
The flowers
Dandelion flowers are a rich source of the nutrient lecithin. The best time to harvest them is mid-spring, when they’re usually the most abundant. If you cut off the green base, the flowers aren’t bitter.
How can you eat dandelion flowers?
- Toss them in salad
- Steam them with other vegetables
- Make wine
- Make fritters
- Make Dandelion Flower Cookies
The roots
Dandelion roots are full of vitamins and minerals. They are also in rich in a substance called inulin, which may help diabetics to regulate blood sugar. Dandelion roots are often used to treat liver disorders. They’re also a safe natural diuretic, because they’re rich in potassium. The best time to harvest dandelion roots is early spring and late fall.
How can you eat dandelion roots?
- Boil them for 20 minutes to make a tea
- Chop, dry, and roast them to make a tasty coffee substitute.
- Add them to soup stock or miso
- Steam them with other vegetables
As most gardeners know, dandelions are virile (some say pernicious) plants. Why not treat them as allies, rather than enemies, this spring?
Do you eat dandelions? Do you have a favorite dandelion recipe?
#1 by growfamilygrow on March 5, 2010 - 7:30 am
When I was a kid, back in the UK, Dandelion and Burdock was a common soda pop drink. I wasn’t so keen on it myself, but given we never had pop in the house when I was offered it at a friend’s house I always took it.
I believe it is made with an infusion of the dandelion leaf.
#2 by Aiming4Simple on March 5, 2010 - 8:56 am
We’ve tried eating the tender young leaves from the dandelions in our yard, but they were too bitter. The dandelion greens I have bought in salad mixes taste better, but I’m not sure why the big difference.
I haven’t tried the other ideas you listed yet, but since we don’t treat our yard, we’ll soon have a large supply for experimenting. =)
#3 by Tracie Bonjour on March 6, 2010 - 11:43 am
Are there perfectly safe to eat when you are pregnant? I would imagine they are but I am just checking.
#4 by newurbanhabitat on March 6, 2010 - 3:04 pm
Hi Tracie. Good question. As with most herbs, there’s a bit of controversy about the safety of consuming dandelion during pregnancy.
The Natural Medicines Database says they they have “Insufficient Reliable Information Available” to ascertain dandelion’s safety during pregnancy.
http://www.americanpregnancy.org/pregnancyhealth/naturalherbsvitamins.html
However, many herbalists, like Susun Weed, say dandelions are absolutely safe, high in iron and calcium, and even helpful for the common pregnancy complaint of water retention.
http://whttp://www.herbalgardens.com/articles/herbs-for-pregnancy.html
Other herbalists recommend dandelion during pregnancy to prevent high blood pressure and treat sore breasts.
http://www.mothernature.com/Library/Bookshelf/Books/15/68.cfm
With everything I know and have read about dandelions, I would feel very comfortable treating them as food and eating (or drinking) them in moderation while pregnant. But, of course, others may feel differently.
#5 by Danielle on March 10, 2010 - 5:38 pm
Love this. I’ve been picking them on my neighborhood walks and making wishes. If I had a backyard where I could trust the soil a little more (versus the city streets I’m walking where batteries are often thrown on the grass and ground), I’d eat them as you suggest. Instead I’m brewing up some dandyblend http://www.dandyblend.com/, which is delicious! The leaves are at the farmers’ market too.
Enjoy and happy almost spring!
#6 by newurbanhabitat on March 10, 2010 - 6:21 pm
Thanks for commenting, Danielle. Dandyblend sounds great! I’m going to look for it next time I’m shopping. I love roasted dandelion root tea. For anyone who hasn’t tried it, it doesn’t taste exactly like coffee, but it’s a very tasty beverage. It’s difficult to harvest enough roots to make much, so I get it in bulk at a local health food store.
#7 by Lisa on April 14, 2010 - 11:22 am
Can You post some more pictures of the whole plant? Ihave two different types that grow and am confused which is which.
#8 by newurbanhabitat on April 17, 2010 - 9:49 am
Hi Lisa,
There are a few flowers in the dandelion family, namely Hawkweeds and Cat’s ears, that also grow in yards. Dandelion differs from them in that it has a hollow stem, only one flower per stem, and no hairs on the plant.
Here’s a primer on identifying dandelion with lots of photos: http://stitchandboots.wordpress.com/2009/05/06/dandelions-taraxacum-officinale-plant-profiles/
#9 by Colline on June 1, 2011 - 10:13 am
I have never thought of eating these plants: and they are so abundant during spring time! Maybe next year I will have the courage to try some in my salad.
#10 by Linda on June 1, 2011 - 9:14 pm
My yard is full of these beauties but with all of the dogs we have I’m not sure that I want to eat them. I do pick up after the dogs but still ick. Just the thought. And they have been peed on. And what about pesticides that may have been used before? Or dog fertilizer that wasn’t always picked up in the past?