Dandelions - Not Only Weeds

Pixabay free image - dandelions

@LadyDuck (471506)

Switzerland

April 3, 2016 1:47am CST

Spring has started and dandelions are showing everywhere in the gardens. Instead of pulling out those weeds and throw in the bin, eat them. The tender leaves can be added to green salads. You can also sautee them in olive oil with garlic and lemon, or make fritters using the dandelions blossoms. The flowers can be also used to prepare a delicious honey. Have you ever tried the dandelions for cooking? If you want to make the dandelion honey, this is the link to my recipe: http://ladyduckblog.blogspot.ch/2016/04/dandelion-honey-recipe.html Thank you to my friend @Ruby3881 for reminding that I published this recipe.

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73 responses

@jaboUK (64354)

• United Kingdom

3 Apr 16

I think I'll pass on all of the things you mention - not for me thanks

. As soon as I see a dandelion I uproot it and it goes in the compost bin.

7 people like this

@LadyDuck (471506)

• Switzerland

3 Apr 16

I have spent an hour outside this afternoon uprooting dandelions. They are already too grown up to be good in salads and I do not want that they spread seeds everywhere.

5 people like this

@jaboUK (64354)

• United Kingdom

3 Apr 16

@LadyDuck That's why I get annoyed with my neighbour - he lets dandelions run wild and the seeds inevitably find their way into my garden.

2 people like this

Nanette Piotrowski

@nanette64 (20364)

• Fairfield, Texas

3 Apr 16

Oh no @jaboUK , but they're so pretty.

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@ScribbledAdNauseum (104628)

• United States

3 Apr 16

I once drank some tea that was made from dandelions. I didn't like the taste and it didn't agree with me. I felt ill afterwards and so had to stop consuming the blend. As a child I would pick them and then rub them between my fingers until they were yellow stain on my hands.

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@ScribbledAdNauseum (104628)

• United States

3 Apr 16

@LadyDuck It was very bitter but it also made me feel feverish. I don't remember the brand's name, but it was store bought. That could have been part of it, I am not sure. I bet the green blossoms would have been great capers.

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@LadyDuck (471506)

• Switzerland

3 Apr 16

@ScribbledAdNauseum Yes, the green blossoms almost taste like capers, you can keep them several days covered with coarse salt.

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@LadyDuck (471506)

• Switzerland

3 Apr 16

I also do not like dandelion tea, it's too bitter. I remember that we used the green blossoms as capers.

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@allknowing (136441)

• India

3 Apr 16

I must see if these grow in my garden.

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@allknowing (136441)

• India

3 Apr 16

@LadyDuck Different situations at different places. Wish what grew that way in my garden was edible too (lol)

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@Hate2Iron (15727)

• Canada

4 Apr 16

If they start... you will have them for a lifetime but the yellow flowers are incredibly pretty!!

2 people like this

@LadyDuck (471506)

• Switzerland

3 Apr 16

My lawn is yellow now, there are dandelions everywhere. I have to cut them before they produce seeds or they will invade all the garden.

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@infatuatedbby (94914)

• United States

4 Apr 16

I never knew you could eat dandelions or use it for cooking! But then again, I don't cook.

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@infatuatedbby (94914)

• United States

4 Apr 16

@LadyDuck I wish I had a passion to cook ~ I would save a lot more money that way. I give up because the foods I make don't turn out good... I need to try harder

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@LadyDuck (471506)

• Switzerland

4 Apr 16

@infatuatedbby You need to try to cook something that you really like and try until it comes out exactly as you like it. You can do it.

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@LadyDuck (471506)

• Switzerland

4 Apr 16

I know that you do not like to cook, for me cooking is not only a hobby, it's a passion.

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@JamesHxstatic (29413)

• Eugene, Oregon

4 Apr 16

The only time I tried them in a salad, they seemed very bitter.

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@LadyDuck (471506)

• Switzerland

4 Apr 16

You have to pick up the young plants before that the flowers bloom. As soon as the buds appear they become more bitter.

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@LadyDuck (471506)

• Switzerland

4 Apr 16

@JamesHxstatic No James, this is something that is abundant everywhere.

@JamesHxstatic (29413)

• Eugene, Oregon

4 Apr 16

@LadyDuck I may try them again. There is no shortage around here.

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@Lucky15 (37374)

• Philippines

3 Apr 16

sounds interesting to try ma'am, though i know few that are eaten raw or in a salad, but haven't tasted one, and i would love to

2 people like this

@LadyDuck (471506)

• Switzerland

3 Apr 16

I only pick up those weeds that I am sure are safe to eat. Dandelions are easy to recognize.

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@Lucky15 (37374)

• Philippines

3 Apr 16

@LadyDuck locally, we have few weeds that are on some local dishes, some blanched and added tomatoes

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@LadyDuck (471506)

• Switzerland

3 Apr 16

@Lucky15 There are several weeds that we eat and they are pretty good.

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@Asylum (47893)

• Manchester, England

3 Apr 16

I have heard of these uses for dandelions as food before, but never considered trying them.

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@Asylum (47893)

• Manchester, England

3 Apr 16

@LadyDuck I will stick to milk chocolate.

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@LadyDuck (471506)

• Switzerland

3 Apr 16

I am not a fan of bitter vegetables, my husband likes them, I prefer a piece of dark chocolate.

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@LadyDuck (471506)

• Switzerland

4 Apr 16

@Asylum I have to send you all the milk chocolate eggs that I bought in excess for Easter. I still have a big bag, it's more than one Kg, but I know that you need much more than that.

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@Fishmomma (11377)

• United States

25 Feb 17

I am behind on weeding. Hoping to catch up soon. Have a good week.

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@Fishmomma (11377)

• United States

25 Feb 17

@LadyDuck I hope to be doing the same thing. Sunday its suppose to rain, so we will see how long that lasts.

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@LadyDuck (471506)

• Switzerland

25 Feb 17

@Fishmomma Today is a beautiful sunny day, but it's not warm enough to work outside.

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@LadyDuck (471506)

• Switzerland

25 Feb 17

Another ten days and I will start to pull out weeds too.

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@Bluedoll (16773)

• Canada

17 Apr 16

I used to like eating while gardening and found some dandelions heads to be sweet if they are fresh and ready for picking. Kept mine out of the garden but around the yard though. Even if they end up in compost bin still useful. First tried them after my geese (walking lawn mowers) showed me they had a taste for them.

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@Bluedoll (16773)

• Canada

17 Apr 16

@LadyDuck last year was tired of keeping a perfect garden and let some "weeds" grow. I was surprised to see a family of small bees taking up residence and wondered if they too had enough places they could call home.

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@LadyDuck (471506)

• Switzerland

17 Apr 16

@Bluedoll It seems that the bees love the dandelions and the rosemary flowers. I keep an area "wild" so that also the bees can be happy.

@LadyDuck (471506)

• Switzerland

17 Apr 16

I have noticed that the turtles of my neighbor loves the dandelions. I will bring them some hours in my garden too.

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Belle Starr (Iz)

@BelleStarr (61102)

• United States

4 Apr 16

I have eaten dandelion greens but find them a little too bitter for my tastes.

2 people like this

@LadyDuck (471506)

• Switzerland

4 Apr 16

As I said to James, you have to pick them up when they are very small and young, before they start to produce buds.

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@Butchcass4 (5895)

• United States

23 Jun 16

I used to eat dandelion greens when I was a kid. I'd put butter and salt on them and Oh my were they ever good eaten, yummy. Thanks for the reminder

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@LadyDuck (471506)

• Switzerland

24 Jun 16

We use dandelion greens as "fake capers", they can be stored covered with salt for several weeks.

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@LadyDuck (471506)

• Switzerland

28 Jun 16

@Butchcass4 We use capers for cooking, on top of some pizzas and in other dishes.

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@Butchcass4 (5895)

• United States

27 Jun 16

@LadyDuck Wow thats very cool. What do you put them on or do you just eat them? How do you eat them?

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ElizabethWallace

@ElizabethWallace (12074)

• United States

3 Apr 16

We don't dare where I live. Who knows what the HOA gardeners put on the grass? It would not be safe to eat them. Also, neighbors let their dogs pee and poo on our lawns. Ick.

2 people like this

@LadyDuck (471506)

• Switzerland

3 Apr 16

Of course we pick up the dandelions in our gardens and vegetable gardens. I believe that nobody would ever pick up things they eat in public places, we eat enough garbage and chemical through the vegetables we buy.

@JudyEv (340019)

• Rockingham, Australia

4 Apr 16

Our dandelions are different to yours so I'd better pass too on these. I have heard before that you can eat dandelions and use them to make tea.

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@LadyDuck (471506)

• Switzerland

5 Apr 16

@JudyEv I do not eat the nasturtium leaves, but I eat the flowers, they are excellent added to salads or to make fritters.

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@LadyDuck (471506)

• Switzerland

4 Apr 16

The flowers can also be added to salads, they add a nice color.

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@JudyEv (340019)

• Rockingham, Australia

5 Apr 16

@LadyDuck I can imagine that the colour would be very attractive. I know you can eat nasturtium leaves too.

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@OKennedy (1130)

• United States

5 Jun 16

Wow I didn't know that I always wondered about them but I hadn't seen or heard of it in foods I might try that.

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@LadyDuck (471506)

• Switzerland

5 Jun 16

The young sprouts are often uses as "fake capers", the taste is not identical, but similar.

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@LadyDuck (471506)

• Switzerland

5 Jun 16

@OKennedy You have to soak capers in water and vinegar for ten minutes and then rinse to remove the salt.

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@OKennedy (1130)

• United States

5 Jun 16

@LadyDuck I like the occasional caper but that high salt content doesn't make it something I would indulge in often. Never hurts to try something new from time to time.

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@youless (112497)

• Guangzhou, China

3 Apr 16

I don't know this is the dandelion because it looks quite differently than the dandelion here. This flower looks more like the wild chrysanthemum for me. We have a type of tea which made from chrysanthemum. It tastes better with sugar. As to dandelion, I don't know it has so many usages. Perhaps this type is different and you can use it for so many aspects.

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@youless (112497)

• Guangzhou, China

3 Apr 16

@LadyDuck There are many kinds of chrysanthemums here, some have little flowers, some look like the crab legs, some are like the ball etc. We have the chrysanthemum exhibition in a park here every year.

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@LadyDuck (471506)

• Switzerland

3 Apr 16

@youless We also have many kind of chrysanthemums here, but dandelions are not of this family, they are in the family of the Asteraceae.

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@allen0187 (58582)

• Philippines

31 May 16

Dandelion honey - now I've seen it all! Lovely photo! Thanks for sharing!!!

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@allen0187 (58582)

• Philippines

1 Jun 16

@LadyDuck seriously? Why? Allergic? Honey is one of the foods that do not soil. Worth keeping a couple of bottles of honey just in case there is a zombie apocalypse and food becomes scarce.

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@LadyDuck (471506)

• Switzerland

31 May 16

I do not particularly like honey, but my friends and family do.

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@LadyDuck (471506)

• Switzerland

1 Jun 16

@allen0187 I do not like the taste, I am not allergic, but I really do not like honey.

@rebelann (112878)

• El Paso, Texas

3 Apr 16

I've never eaten them but I did know that Native Americans used to eat them as part of their diet. It amazes me how so many useful plants are called weeds, makes no sense to me.

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@rebelann (112878)

• El Paso, Texas

4 Apr 16

So very true @LadyDuck it's a shame that so many people use too much herbicides to kill them.

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@LadyDuck (471506)

• Switzerland

4 Apr 16

I think that we call "weeds" every plant that auto seed and spread spontaneously. Many so called weeds are good to eat and also packed with minerals and vitamins.

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@LadyDuck (471506)

• Switzerland

5 Apr 16

@rebelann Herbicides have been banned here in Switzerland, they kills the bees and pollute the waters. I am glad they took this decision.

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@besweet (9859)

• Ireland

3 Apr 16

Hello! I didn't know that there are so many wonderful things to do with dandelions! I live in an apartment now and don't have a garden. But I will pick up some flowers to make your recipe when I visit my parents for Easter! They have a large field outside our home at the countryside so I am sure there will be plenty of dandelions!

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@LadyDuck (471506)

• Switzerland

4 Apr 16

Pick them up from a garden, not near the roads where they can be polluted by car emissions. The fields are surely covered with dandelions now.

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@besweet (9859)

• Ireland

4 Apr 16

@LadyDuck Good idea! I will ask my friend who has a little garden if there are any at her place! I live in the city center and it's hard to find non-polluted plants here! I visited the beach yesterday but I didn't think about gathering some flowers..

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@LadyDuck (471506)

• Switzerland

4 Apr 16

@besweet Ask your friend, the fields are filled with dandelions.

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Nanette Piotrowski

@nanette64 (20364)

• Fairfield, Texas

3 Apr 16

I have always been a fan of Dandelions @LadyDuck . I don't consider them a weed but a beautiful flower. I will cut several to put in a vase to put on my kitchen counter.

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@LadyDuck (471506)

• Switzerland

3 Apr 16

I cut the flowers too to decorate the house and I uproot many plants because I cook them and also because they invade too much my vegetable garden.

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@LadyDuck (471506)

• Switzerland

3 Apr 16

@nanette64 Yes, and when I mow the lawn they come into my nostrils, thing that I hate.

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Nanette Piotrowski

@nanette64 (20364)

• Fairfield, Texas

3 Apr 16

@LadyDuck That is the one thing about Dandelions, those seeds spread fast.

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Valerie J. Routhieaux

@just4him (317041)

• Green Bay, Wisconsin

4 Apr 16

I've been seeing more about dandelions and salads lately. Yes, as soon as winter throws off her mantle for good, we will see dandelions here as well, usually in May.

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@LadyDuck (471506)

• Switzerland

4 Apr 16

They are covering our fields and lawns from about one week. The leaves are already too bitter to eat raw, you have to pick them up before the flowers bloom.

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@LadyDuck (471506)

• Switzerland

4 Apr 16

@just4him This is also my problem, when they are not blooming it's hard to spot the plants in the fields.

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Valerie J. Routhieaux

@just4him (317041)

• Green Bay, Wisconsin

4 Apr 16

@LadyDuck I never notice them until they bloom, and then they are everywhere.

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