While Russian gardeners consider dandelion a malicious weed and are waging a fierce struggle with it, enterprising Frenchmen plant it like lettuce. In the roots, leaves and flowers of the "yolks" there are many useful substances. Take the example from the French and prepare a healthy salad from dandelions.
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Is it possible to eat dandelions
Not only possible, but even necessary. Many have heard of their benefits. Only not everyone dared to taste the weed. Those who nevertheless ventured on this, most likely, did not appreciate his specific bitterness. You can not worry about this, because simple manipulations before cooking will easily remove the bitterness.
What is better to eat: roots, leaves or flowers?
In all parts of dandelion, there are many vitamins and minerals. Especially rich in leaves. They have a lot of vitamin C, calcium, iron and phosphorus. We will use them to prepare a light and healthy salad. It diversifies the diet and helps in the fight against spring vitamin deficiency. By the way, the leaves are suitable not only for salad, but also for soups, seasonings for meat and fish dishes.
In general, from a gastronomic point of view, dandelion is a universal plant. In the sense that all its parts can be put into action - and roots, and leaves, and flowers. Of the latter, you can make not only jam, but also side dishes, soups, salads and even wine. Dandelion roots are good for making tea if you dry them first.
Preparing Dandelion Leaves
Only young May leaves are good for eating. They have the maximum benefit. And they taste juicy and with a minimum of bitterness. It is important to have time to collect them before the buds appear. Otherwise, the leaves will become stiff.
Collect in dry weather and away from roads. The farther from civilization, the greater the benefits will be in the dandelion.
After harvest, rinse and cut the leaves. You can not cut it if you plan to use them whole. Pour cold water, after adding salt to it. The proportions are approximately the following: 3 tbsp. l salt per 1 liter of water. Let the leaves lie in saline for about an hour. During this time, bitterness will come out of them.
If you plan to heat the leaves, you do not need to soak them in saline. When heated, the dandelion will completely lose its bitterness.
