Old-Fashioned Homemade Dandelion Fritters: A Springtime Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Are deep fried dandelions good for you? ›

These crispy battered and fried dandelion flowers taste amazing! They make a great appetizer or you can sprinkle some on a green salad for added crunch factor. These edible flowers are nutritional powerhouses, bursting with vitamin C.

Remove all of the green stems from the base of the dandelion flowers as you pick them. Use your thumbnail to scoop out the material that grows at the top of the stem into the flowers so that no particle of the bitter juice remains. Wash the flowers and shake them dry.

In an air-tight container, pour vodka over the chopped dandelion roots, completely covering them. 3. After a quick stir, seal the container and allow it to sit in a cool dark place for 1 - 3 months, dandelion roots need at least 1 month to infuse into the tincture.

One way to infuse your oil is to add your chosen oil and dried flowers to a small pot and warm on the stove to a low simmer. Be very careful not to overheat the oil and don't allow it to boil. Once cooled, pour into a glass jar and let it infuse further or just strain and use straightaway.

Dandelions are highly invasive plants native to Eurasia, and they damage local ecosystems. Their pollen is low in protein and is inadequate even for generalist honeybees. It's typically even worse for native bees, which generally have more specific pollen requirements.

If you are allergic to ragweed, chrysanthemums, marigold, chamomile, yarrow, daisies, or iodine, you should avoid dandelion. In some people, dandelion can cause increased stomach acid and heartburn. It may also irritate the skin.

Not only are dandelion greens safe to eat, but they also provide a range of health benefits. All parts of a dandelion plant are edible, from the top of the yellow flower down to the roots. The green leaves of the dandelion can make a healthy addition to salads, sandwiches, omelets, and more.

Leaching: This is the process mentioned earlier of boiling out the water soluble sesquiterpenes, leaving a wonderfully rich flavor. In my experience, using fresh, rapidly growing greens, you only have to boil them once for three to five minutes for them to release most of their bitterness.

The other problem with vinegar is that it kills the leaves, but the tap root remains, so the dandelion comes back.

What is the healthiest way to eat dandelion? ›

Pick dandelion flowers in full bloom early in the day while full of nectar. Put the flowers in cold water and allow to soak for five minutes to remove any insects.

Dandelion Root

He adds that this makes it ideal for those dealing with inflammatory scalp conditions such as seborrheic dermatitis and dandruff. Indirectly, this can also have a subsequently beneficial effect on hair growth, given that inflammation on the scalp and in the follicle can impede healthy hair growth.

Soak the leaves in cold, salted water for 10 or 15 minutes, then cook them in boiling water until tender (no more than five minutes). Finish by sautéing the boiled greens with some olive oil, onion or garlic.

Dandelion roots have little flavor on their own, so are best used in combination with other vegetables. As with any vegetable, dandelions need to be washed and properly handled to prevent foodborne illness. Leafs and roots should always be rinsed under cool, running water before consuming.

Soaking the cleaned leaves in cold water for 30 minutes reduces some of this bitterness. Or you can balance the bitterness with equally bold flavors, such as garlic, anchovies and lemon, all which resonate beautifully with dandelion, abundant in spring throughout Sonoma County.

Olive Oil: Grapeseed oil is a great option for the base oil as well. Dandelion Flowers: Enough to fill your container of choice.

Place your dandelion blossoms in a colander and rinse well to wash away any insects or dirt. Run cleaned flowers through a salad spinner to help remove water from the blossoms. Before infusing in oil, dandelion blossoms need to dry. Water in an infused oil makes spoilage likely, and you don't want that!

Dandelions Are Anti-Aging

This simple herb contains the trifecta of beneficial skin care vitamins: A, C, and E. These vitamins are extremely beneficial when used topically and are proven to help prevent and reverse signs of aging (1). Vitamins A, C, and E are powerful antioxidants.

What is the healthiest way to eat dandelions? ›

Sauteeing the greens with olive oil and garlic is a good treatment for any leafy green. Boil the greens for 5 minutes, then sautee them in a pan of hot olive oil and garlic for up to 5 minutes. Baked. Similar to how you might bake kale chips, you can make dandelion leaf chips by baking them in your oven.

Highly nutritious

From root to flower, dandelions are highly nutritious plants loaded with vitamins, minerals, and fiber. Dandelion greens can be eaten cooked or raw and are an excellent source of vitamins A, C, and K. They also contain vitamin E, folate, and small amounts of other B vitamins.

Dandelions are one of many edible weeds that are not only safe to eat but nutritious, too—they're chock-full of vitamins and minerals, including calcium, magnesium, iron, and Vitamins A, C, and K. The leaves contain lutein, a powerful antioxidant, and the root is rich in inulin, a prebiotic fiber.

Dandelions pack a whole lot of vitamins and minerals into a small plant. “They're probably the most nutritionally dense green you can eat — outstripping even kale or spinach,” Geib says. Dandelion greens, in particular, are a great source of vitamins and minerals such as: Vitamins A, C and K.