Even avid gardeners would rather do plenty of other things than spend time pulling weeds. However, when most gardeners learn that some weeds are actually healthy, tasty and edible plants, they get a bit more interested in this dreary task. Consider these common wild plants that may be called weeds by some people and ingredients by others!
Here are some five edible weeds that are good for you!
Dandelion Dandelion: Most people are familiar with the flowering plant called a dandelion. These tend to crop up in lawns in most climates. The leaves of these plants, sometimes called dandelion greens, actually make perfect ingredients for a light salad. A dash of vinagarette dressing works very well with these greens. Are dandelion greens healthy? Yes, they provide vitamin C, vitamin A, and beta carotene. As a tip, the blooms can be used to make dandelion wine.
Purslane Portulaca oleracea Purslane: This plant is usually found in garden beds and lawns that are kept shaded and moist. Because it tends to grow very close to the ground, it often gets overlooked. However, it is worth noticing because it contains more essential fatty acids than other leafy vegetable choices. This succulent plant works well raw in a salad or cooked in a stir-fry dish. It is also used to thicken soup, sauce, and stew. It has a slightly crispy texture and a peppery taste.
Sheep Sorrel Sheep sorrel: Sometimes also called dock, this wind flora has a lemony and tart flavor. It has been compared to Swiss chard and it can be found growing wind in Europe and North America. The young leaves complement salads with a citrus flavor. The older greens get a bit tough to eat raw, but they are fine cooked up in soup or stir-fry dishes.
Chickweed Chickweed: Not only is chickweed a healthy source of food, it has also been featured in some herbal remedies. This succulent plant has green and pointed leaves and a generous portion of essential fatty acids, minerals, and vitamins. One caution about chickweed is that too much can cause diarrhea, so it is good to take it easy until you know how well you tolerate it. Of course, one of this plant's uses as a home remedy is to help with constipation and as a natural and healthy purifier. Again, just be careful not to use too much.
Clover Clover: You don't need to find a four-leafed clover to get lucky with common clover. Bees love clover leaves, and you might too if you add it to your meals. You can chop up a small amount of the leaves for your salad. You can also saute clover leaves to add a bit of green to a stew or stir-fry dish. The leaves of red or white clover are edible both cooked and raw. Another common use is to dry clover flowers to make tea. In fact, red clover tea is a common ingredient in natural remedies.
Why Eat Weeds?
Instead of using harmful pesticides, why not help preserve the environment and improve your health by using edible weeds? Venturing out to collect leaves for your salad or soup might seem like a better use of your time than just going outside to pull weeds.
About the Author Roger Lehman writes and plays music in his spare time. He runs a site bestblenderforthemoney.com that gives you the latest reviews and information on blenders to help you make the right choice.
