Edible Blossoms - Ways to Utilize Them in the Kitchen
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Blossoms on confectionery products, salads or beverages captivate with their colors... Some of the plants are not only decorative - they are also edible... Integrating them into dishes will provide a great diversity that will enchant many guests.
What flowers can be eaten?
Edible flowers have their applications in the food industry. They lend attractiveness to dishes and stimulate their consumption. However, it is important to contemplate whether a specific plant can be safely ingested, as many decorations may be inedible. Plants that are safe for health include carnations, violets, brides, medicinal herbs, lavender, or marigolds, but the most popular one is the addition of rose petals. Their blossoms are widely utilized in the food industry, cosmetics, and aromatherapy (M. Śmiechowska, 2018). Flowers were originally employed to adorn dishes. Nowadays, their health-promoting effects are also taken into consideration. Many edible flowers exert a positive influence on the human organism - primarily due to the presence of vitamin C and antioxidant substances such as flavonoids, anthocyanins, isoflavones, which neutralize free radicals and safeguard against oxidative stress.
Recipes incorporating edible flowers
Flowers that can be eaten can be an ingredient in many dishes – they are particularly employed in the case of desserts. However, it is not necessary to limit oneself to sweet dishes. Their application remains an excellent choice in the case of savory dishes.
Recipe for an overnight oatmeal dish with red currants and violets
Preparation time: 15 minutes + storage time Ingredients (for 1 serving): - oat flakes - 4 tablespoons (40 g), - natural yogurt - 1 piece (150 g), - cocoa powder - 1 teaspoon (5 g), - erythritol - 2 teaspoons (10 g), - red currants - a handful (45 g), - violet flowers - 1 tablespoon (0, 3 g). Preparation1. Pour the oat flakes into a bowl. 2. Add natural yogurt, cocoa powder, and erythritol, and mix them thoroughly. 3. Add half of the red currants to the oat flake mixture and mix gently. 4. Place the bowl in the refrigerator overnight. In the morning, decorate the oat flake mixture with the remaining red currants and violet flowers.
A salad with tuna, eggs and garlic
Preparation time: 15 minutes Ingredients (per 1 serving):
- egg - piece (50 g),
- tuna from a can - half a piece (60 g),
- spinach leaves - handful (25 g),
- cocktail tomatoes - handful (100 g),
- pickled cucumbers - piece (50 g),
- onion - plaster (15 g),
- salt - pinch (0.2 g),
- garlic flowers - 2 teaspoons (0.6 g).
Instructions:
1. Cook the egg hard (about 8 minutes).
2. In the meantime, wash the vegetables. Cut the tomatoes in half, the cucumbers into slices, and finely chop the onion.
3. Wash the spinach and place it in a bowl. Add the vegetables.
4. Remove the tuna from the can and add it to the salad.
5. Peel and quarter the cooked egg and add it to the bowl. Season the salad with salt.
6. Finally, sprinkle the garlic flowers over the salad.
Cream soup from beetroot with added starch
Preparation time: 80 minutes. Ingredients (per 1 serving): beetroot - piece (140 g), potato - piece (90 g), onion - slice (15 g), olive oil - teaspoon (5 g), coconut milk - 5 tablespoons (50 g), parsley - teaspoon (5 g), salt - pinch (0,2 g), pepper - pinch (0,2 g), butterfly flowers - teaspoon (0,3 g). Preparation: 1. Wash the beetroot, cut it in half and place it in a pot, pour water (about 250 ml) and cook for about 30 minutes. 2. In the meantime, peel the potatoes, cut them into cubes and add them to the beetroot. Cook for another 30 minutes. 3. Heat olive oil in a pan and fry finely chopped onions. 4. Mix the cooked vegetables into a smooth cream, add coconut milk, fried onions and spices and mix. 5. Pour it into a bowl, decorate with chopped parsley and butterfly flowers.
Crepes with yogurt, fruits, and cherry blossoms
Preparation time is 25 minutes. Ingredients (per 1 serving): – orchid flour 3.5 teaspoons (40 g), – egg art (50 g) – milk 1⁄2 cup (120 ml), – baking powder 1 1⁄2 teaspoons (0.2 g), – olive oil 5 teaspoons (5 g), – natural yogurt 1/2 teaspoon (75 g), – mangoes a handful (50 g), – cherry blossoms 2 teaspoons (0.6 g). Instructions: 1. Combine orchid flour, egg, milk, and baking powder, add a teaspoonful of edible flowers, and gently mix. 2. Heat olive oil in the pan and bake the crepes. 3. When the crepes are ready, cover them with yogurt and mangoes, roll them up, and sprinkle with cherry blossoms.
Tags
Edible Flowers
Culinary Uses Of Flowers
Health Benefits Of Flowers
Plant-based Recipes
Natural Food Decoration
Plant-based
Fiber-Rich
Heart Health
Omega-3
Whole Foods
Antioxidants
Gut Health
Digestive Health
Micronutrients
Inflammation
Brain Health
Immune System
Medicinal Plants
Phytotherapy
Honey
Anti-aging