By: Ivana Dragica |
Dandelion - free healing food from your backyard |
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Many of us have blown the seeds of this flower in childhood.
Popular dandelion has a Latin name of Taraxacum officinale, and it originates from Europe and northern Asia.
Over the centuries it had many names such as bitter greens, chicory, Italian salad and more.
Dandelion is a cheap and affordable food and medicine and now is the perfect time for harvesting since the dandelion season has just started.
Healing properties of dandelion
Dandelion leaves exceed even spinach and tomatoes when it comes to vitamin content.
It contains vitamins A, B2, C, D and G, and the minerals potassium, sodium, calcium, phosphorus and iron.
It is s a powerful diuretic and is beneficial for the kidneys and urinary organs.
Apart from having diuretic properties, it also stimulates the creation of bile, cleanses the liver, helps with allergies and reduces cholesterol.
Because of the many nutrients it contains, dandelion leaves are recommended as a food supplement for pregnant and post-menopausal women.
Dandelion is generally favorable for female diseases, and in particular for the prevention and treatment of breast disease, cysts, cancer, swelling with breastfeeding problems.
Dandelion root tea
Dandelion root is a potent remedy for liver and stomach.
Six cups of dandelion tea a day root supposedly can cure hepatitis within two weeks.
Phytotherapy uses this tea for treating all sorts of ailments. This tea is recommended for digestive problems, insufficient secretion of bile, high blood pressure and lack of appetite.
Stems and flowers
Dandelion stems promote dissolution of bile, regulate metabolism and purify the blood and stomach.
Folk medicine recommends them against diabetes and for removing warts. Put dandelion stem milk on warts until they fall off.
You can make syrup using flowers of this plant which is sometimes called honey, because of their similarity in structure.
This syrup cleans and strengthens the blood and digestion and helps with coughing.
Dandelion in cuisine
Dandelion is easily accessible and delicious wild plant that you can always pick and eat during its season.
You can use it like spinach - add it to the salad, sauce, pasta, rice, soup. You can use it for making green pulpy juice.
You can fry dandelion flowers or add them to salads, while unopened buds can be pickled and preserved.
It is best to pick dandelion leaves in spring because then there is no bitter juice in them.
The flowers are harvested during sunny weather, the best around noon when all the flowers are opened.
Dandelion recipes
Dandelion root coffee
Dig out the roots in the spring, wash them, cut and fry in the oven. Grind them in a coffee grinder. Use dandelion roots for making coffee-like beverage or just add it into ordinary coffee.
Dandelion roots and leaf tea
Put a handful of fresh roots and / or dandelion leaves per liter of hot water. Strain the mixture after ten minutes.
Drink 3 cups a day.
Green pulpy dandelion juice
Ingredients:
- 1 banana
- 300 ml of water
- 100 g of berries (fresh or frozen)
- 100 g of dandelion leaves
- 1 tablespoon of brown sugar or maple syrup (optional)
Preparation:
Put all ingredients in a blender and grind for 1-2 minutes. Drink the juice immediately, in small sips. The aforementioned ingredients are enough for making juice for one meal for one person.
Creamy dandelion sauce
Ingredients:
- 1 kg of dandelion leaves and stems
- a bit of olive oil
- 2 spring onions
- 1 small sweet red pepper
- 3 cloves of garlic
- 400 ml of cream
- salt and pepper
- a bit of Muscat nut
Preparation:
Finely chop vegetables and chop dandelion leaves into thin strips. Simmer chopped onions, garlic and pepper in a large pan over a mild fire, then add the dandelion stems and cook everything for a few minutes.
Add dandelion leaves, season and cook until all the liquid has evaporated, then add the cream.
Cook and stir until the mixture forms into a thick sauce, which takes about five minutes.
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