Discover the culinary and health benefits of dandelions
In May, you can save significantly on food expenses by foraging in meadows for sorrel, nettles, or dandelion flowers. With these, you can make soup, pasta with pesto, a salad, and tasty fritters for dinner.
Many people hesitate to pick dandelions because they might confuse them with inedible sow-thistles. However, it's quite easy to differentiate between these two plants. Dandelion flowers grow from a single, unbranched stem. Their leaves are sharply pointed, unlike those of sow-thistles, which have rounded tips. Dandelion flowers can be turned into honey or jam for tea. The leaves can be used for pesto or a spring salad.
Nutritional value of dandelions
Dandelion flowers and leaves are rich in vitamins C, A, and the B group, along with minerals such as silicon, potassium, and magnesium. They support the immune system, improve digestion, and enhance the function of the nervous system.
For many years, the plant has been used in natural medicine as a remedy with anti-inflammatory properties and for liver regeneration support. Dandelions stimulate bile production, aiding in the digestion of fatty foods. They also have a diuretic effect, promoting kidney and urinary system health, and aiding in the treatment of anaemia.
Recipe for dandelion fritters
You can sprinkle the fritters with icing sugar or serve them with fruits, cream, or yoghurt.
Ingredients:
- 10 dandelion flowers,
- 1 egg,
- 65g of flour,
- 250ml of buttermilk,
- 1 packet of vanilla sugar,
- oil for frying.
Instructions:
- Trim the dandelion flowers from the stems, rinse them under running water, and place them on a paper towel to drain.
- Mix the ingredients for the sweet pancake batter using a mixer.
- Heat the pan with oil.
- Dip the flowers in the batter and fry until golden on both sides.
