Dandelion Season...Or, Make A Wish Then Cook A Dish...

Guess what time of year it is?  The beginning of dandelion season!  Sprinkled amongst the slowly-turning-a-lush-green grass and the bright bobbing daffodils here in Athens, you'll find the dark green flat leaves of the dandelion plant starting to take root complete with circular yellow flowers.  When I was a kid I would have to dig them out of my Nana's garden all spring, every spring.  Little did I know that you could eat them and that they were delicious to boot!  I knew about Poke Salad since my Nana ate it when she was a child growing up in the southern part of Georgia but never a Dandelion Salad.  Now that I'm an adult and know more about how good, and good for you, these-once-were-annoying-weeds-but-now-delicious-greens are, I'm not only eating them raw but juicing them or sauteing them with garlic every chance I get.

I just ordered this dandelion fork to help with my foraging.  Yep, there's something called a 'dandelion fork' and while the focus may be for gardeners to eradicate the plant using it, many folks choose to wield the implement to help with faster harvesting.  After all, every single bit of the dandelion is edible - from the roots to the flower.  But the serious thing is that you should always double check a plant before you eat it so I highly recommend looking up images of any plant you forage and pay super close attention to any poisonous counterparts.  When in doubt you should never eat the item in question.  Take it to a professional or just leave it be.  And nowadays you can find dandelion greens in many grocery stores, at co-ops or in farmers markets so that'll take the guesswork out of the picture.  Although using a dandelion fork to dig up your own plant is enormously satisfying and fun!

A few other warnings/suggestions for you!  Don't eat dandelions from areas that are highly trafficked or sprayed with pesticides.  Also, you should never ever ever forage somewhere where you might do damage or where it has been forbidden.  State parks, national parks and private land are all no-no's.  Remember, don't disturb and/or eat things willy nilly, ok?  Be safe, courteous and cautious at all times!

So, just what can you do with dandelions?  Let me break it down!

Dandelions can be harvested at any point in the growing season, and while the smaller leaves are considered to be less bitter and more palatable raw, the bigger leaves can be eaten as well, especially as an addition to a green salad. If raw dandelion leaves don't appeal to you, they can also be steamed or added to a stir-fry or soup, which can make them taste less bitter. 

The flowers are sweet and crunchy, and can be eaten raw, or breaded and fried, or even used to make dandelion wine. 

The root of the dandelion can be dried and roasted and used as a coffee substitute, or added to any recipe that calls for root vegetables.

And the health benefits?  Boosting immunity.  Aiding in digestion.  Good source of Folate, Magnesium, Phosphorus and Copper, and a very good source of Dietary Fiber, Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Vitamin E (Alpha Tocopherol), Vitamin K, Thiamin, Riboflavin, Vitamin B6, Calcium, Iron, Potassium and Manganese.  The list goes on!  Go here for more information as well as any cautionary suggestions I haven't yet mentions...

Bon Appetit and happy foraging!

Need an easy recipe for a delicious salad featuring dandelion greens?  Why not this one!