Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show: Edible weeds
With this drought, what if you could just EAT your yard? I’ve noticed PLENTY of weeds.
Plantain for one. You can use the young leaves like spinach or lightly stir fry the old ones. Some people blanch them, freeze them and use them in soups and stews.
Purslane is prevalent too. Disclaimer, make sure you KNOW what weeds you’re eating.
Purslane leaves and stems are a nice addition to salads, you can also steam them or add them to soups and stews.
Wild Plant recipes from WildmanSteveBrill
Then there’s burdock, a plant that at first glance looks like rhubarb. Eattheweeds – burdock
It is NOT, however, you can eat it’s deep, beige, thick taproot like a potato. The leaves are not very tasty.
Clover makes a great tea.
Lambs quarters is a relative to spinach and beets. The leaves are loaded with beta-carotene, calcium, potassium and iron.
I have a crop of wild yarrow in my lawn. Yarrow has a strong licorice-like scent and a mildly sweet flavor that’s similar to tarragon. This entire plant is edible, but its leaves and flowers are especially popular to use in recipes. They can be dried and used as a spice.
But, fresh flowers and leaves are also great for salads, soups, and stews. Yarrow complements vegetables and fruits well. Add yarrow in your vinaigrette to make a nice salad dressing. Personally, I haven’t tried it, I mow it!