Get even with dandelions....Eat them. Any ideas?
By Uroborus
@Uroborus (908)
Canada
August 3, 2008 12:08pm CST
I'm not the first to suggest this of course. Many cultures have been doing this for centuries. But in North America, we generally greet dandelions as weeds that must be eradicated. Yes, lets eradicate them. But why spend money on poisonous chemicals?The entire dandelion plants is edible. The leaves can be used in casseroles or soups, as long as you pick them before they flower. They're still edible after that, but very bitter. The flowers can be made into a strong tea, sugar added and fermented into a lovely wine. The roots can be oven roasted and ground up as a caffeine free coffee substitute or extender.
Have you used dandelions as a food? What is your favorite way to prepare them?
5 people like this
10 responses
@mandykaren (2040)
•
3 Aug 08
haha that is funny, because i do remember the saying. if you pick a dandelions you will wet the bed lol i never understood why the saying and they never coursed me to wet my bed 
1 person likes this
@StarChild517 (657)
• United States
4 Aug 08
welll I already knew dandelions were edible cause I study herbs and stuff and they help your skin tone/complexion
1 person likes this
@dragonstar1 (330)
•
4 Aug 08
Its great to read this comment, I've been making my own skin care recently and always like food stuffs that show on the outside.
1 person likes this
@deebomb (15304)
• United States
3 Aug 08
My grandmother talked about using them for greens in the spring along with Lambs quarters or goosefoot before the garden was up and big enough to eat when she was young. I have never tried the dandelions but have read a lot about them. II have seen where the blossom is dipped in a batter and deep fried.
1 person likes this
@vera5d (4005)
• United States
4 Aug 08
I don't eat dandelions, though I have heard they are edible.
I think they are a pretty flower, not a weed, and so that is why I don't eat them :)
I also think that dandelions exist so little kids can have flowers to pick that nobody will get mad at them for picking :) :)
1 person likes this
@fluffysue (1482)
• United States
4 Aug 08
This is very interesting. I knew you could eat certain parts of the dandelion, but I had no idea of all the different uses. I used to love dandelions as a kid and never saw them as weeds. I still think they are kind of pretty really. But that doesn't mean I wouldn't consider eating them! 
1 person likes this
@hotchick1117 (25)
• Canada
4 Aug 08
I'd probably try that if I weren't allergic to them ahaha.
1 person likes this
@sunshinelady (7609)
• United States
3 Aug 08
I have heard you can eat them. I have never tried dandelions as any type of food. But I must confess I am curious as how they would taste. I will have to go to the search engine and put in ways to eat dandelions and see what it comes up with. Very interesting discussion.
@sunshinelady (7609)
• United States
3 Aug 08
I searched out dandelions as food and this is what came up. There were a lot of other sites that came up also in the search find.
Fresh Dandelions
Tomato Dandelion Salad
This is an easy salad to make that will complement numerous recipes as a side dish. I
dandelion and sorrel salad with paprika stars
A quick and easy salad, great for summertime.
Dandelion Salad with Pomegranate Seeds, Pine Nuts, and Roasted Delicata Squash Recipe
Great as an appetizer or side dish
Dandelion Salad - Allrecipes
Best when young and tender, dandelion greens make a great salad! If you're wary about using the greens growing in the yard, you may often find them in the produce section of food specialty shops.
@winewhisky (345)
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3 Aug 08
When I was a kid I tried to make dandelion coffee from the roots. I roasted them. I have no idea whether it tasted any good, though. I seem to remember mixing it in with real coffee to get it to taste like coffee in the end lol.
