Among the lesser-known and often overlooked edible flowers, dandelion flowers stand out as a unique and delightful culinary treat. Their delicate, slightly bitter flavor adds a touch of complexity to dishes, while their vibrant yellow color brings a cheerful pop to your plate. Whether you're a seasoned forager or a curious home cook looking to expand your culinary horizons, exploring the culinary potential of dandelion flowers can be a rewarding and delicious adventure. Discover the secrets of preparing and cooking this underappreciated ingredient, and unlock a world of culinary possibilities.
Here are our top 5 tried and tested recipes!
DEEP-FRIED DANDELIONS
The edible flowers on these weeds are nutritional powerhouses, bursting with vitamin C, and they taste amazing when coated in this tempura-style batter and fried. Serve as an appetizer or a crunchy topper for your favorite spring salad.
Provided by Leslie Kelly
Categories Appetizers and Snacks
Time 18m
Yield 6
Number Of Ingredients 7
Steps:
- Wash dandelions under cool running water and dry on paper towels. Remove the green tendrils behind each flower.
- Mix flour, curry powder, and salt together in a bowl or measuring cup. Beat egg in a bowl; stir in flour mixture until smooth. Add beer to mixture until batter is similar to runny pancake batter. Add more beer if batter is too thick.
- Heat oil in a small saucepan to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). If you don't have a thermometer, heat the oil until it begins to shimmer.
- Dip dandelion flowers in the batter and gently drop in the hot oil, working in batches. Fry flowers until golden, about 3 minutes. Transfer cooked flowers to crumpled paper towels or on a wire rack; serve warm.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 167.2 calories, Carbohydrate 17.8 g, Cholesterol 31 mg, Fat 8.5 g, Fiber 1 g, Protein 3.6 g, SaturatedFat 1.2 g, Sodium 214.5 mg, Sugar 0.2 g
FRIED DANDELIONS (APPALACHIAN STYLE)
This is a recipe handed down by my mother and is a local favorite back in West Virginia, up in the Appalachian Mountains. This recipe consists of picking the largest dandelion flowers and leaving the entire stem behind, battering the flowers up and frying them in butter. Has a flavor similar to that of mushrooms. One word of caution...to avoid a bitter taste, make sure the dandelion flowers you're picking have not been sprayed by dogs or pesticides.
Provided by Micah Funk
Categories Side Dish Vegetables
Time 30m
Yield 8
Number Of Ingredients 6
Steps:
- Combine the flour, seasoned salt, and pepper in a mixing bowl until evenly combined; set aside. Beat the eggs in a mixing bowl, then stir in the dandelion blossoms until completely coated.
- Melt the butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Remove half of the dandelions from the egg, and allow the excess egg to drip away. Toss in the flour until completely coated, then remove from the flour, tossing between your hands to allow excess flour to fall away. Cook the dandelions in the melted butter until golden brown, stirring occasionally, about 5 minutes. Drain on a paper towel-lined plate. Repeat with the remaining dandelions.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 265.8 calories, Carbohydrate 27.2 g, Cholesterol 123.5 mg, Fat 14.5 g, Fiber 1.8 g, Protein 7.2 g, SaturatedFat 8.2 g, Sodium 821.1 mg, Sugar 0.4 g
DANDELION FRITTERS
These wild springtime blossoms have a mild, slightly bitter flavor.
Provided by Martha Stewart
Categories Food & Cooking Appetizers
Number Of Ingredients 11
Steps:
- When picking dandelions, pinch blossoms off from top of stems. Fill a medium bowl with 4 cups of cool water. Add 1 teaspoon salt and lemon juice. Place dandelions in the bowl and push them down into the water several times to clean them. Drain dandelions upside down on paper towels.
- In a medium bowl, sift together flour, cornmeal, remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt, pepper, and chile powder. Add thyme, and mix well. In a small bowl, whisk together egg and milk. Pour egg mixture into flour and stir until well combined to form a batter.
- Pour 1 inch of oil into a 9-inch cast-iron skillet. Heat oil to 375 degrees. Gently dip each flower into batter. Carefully place in hot oil; do not crowd. Fry until golden, about 2 minutes, turn, and fry 1 more minute if necessary. Drain on paper towels. Salt lightly. Serve hot as hors d'oeuvres or a side dish.
FRIED DANDELION FLOWER
Make and share this Fried Dandelion Flower recipe from Food.com.
Provided by chef4three
Categories Vegetable
Time 15m
Yield 2-3 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 6
Steps:
- Beat the egg and add the milk. Whisk in the flour and seasonings. You can dip the flowers and fry immediately, but the batter stays on better if it's refrigerated for a half hour or so.
- When the batter is lightly browned, lift the flowers out of the oil and drain them on paper towels.
FRIED DANDELION BLOSSOMS
Make and share this Fried Dandelion Blossoms recipe from Food.com.
Provided by Bailey5
Categories < 15 Mins
Time 10m
Yield 4 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 5
Steps:
- Wash dandelion blossoms in salted water (about 3 tablespoons in 1 gallon of water) rinse throughly and pat semi-dry on a towel.
- Mix flour, salt and pepper in large zip-lock bag; add dandelion blossoms and shake until coated.
- Fry in hot oil until browned. Drain on paper towels and salt to taste.
- Don't forget you can use the dandelion leaves in a salad.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 114.4, Fat 0.3, SaturatedFat 0.1, Sodium 291.4, Carbohydrate 24, Fiber 0.9, Sugar 0.1, Protein 3.3
Tips:
- Choose the right dandelion flowers: Select young, tender dandelion flowers that are free of blemishes and pests. Avoid flowers that are wilted or have already gone to seed.
- Clean the dandelion flowers thoroughly: Rinse the dandelion flowers thoroughly in cold water to remove any dirt or debris. Shake off any excess water before cooking.
- Remove the pistils: The pistils, or the central part of the flower, can be bitter. Use a pair of scissors or tweezers to carefully remove the pistils from each flower.
- Use a light batter: A light batter will help the dandelion flowers to stay crispy and light. Avoid using a heavy batter, as it can weigh down the flowers and make them soggy.
- Fry the dandelion flowers in hot oil: Heat the oil to a high temperature before frying the dandelion flowers. This will help them to cook quickly and evenly. Avoid overcrowding the pan, as this can cause the flowers to steam instead of fry.
Conclusion:
Dandelion flowers are a versatile and delicious ingredient that can be used in a variety of dishes. They are a good source of vitamins and minerals, and they have a slightly bitter flavor that can add a unique touch to your recipes. With a little creativity, you can use dandelion flowers to make everything from salads and soups to fritters and tempura. So next time you see a dandelion flower, don't just mow it down - pick it and enjoy its culinary delights!
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