The Dandelion Has Many Purposes

The Dandelion Has Many Purposes

A lot of people find dandelions annoying. At this time of year, conversations frequently turn to the best pesticides for eradicating those pesky dandelions. However, there are people all around the world who see the dandelion as a blessing and use it in cooking and medicine. The dandelion is a common, highly nutritious, and totally cost-free natural vegetable. Leaves and roots are the most common parts used. Minerals, fiber, and all the vitamins and carotenoids (A, B, and C) are abundant in them.

 The natural diuretic and well-liked liver and blood purifier is the dandelion. In addition to helping nourish and improve the digestive system, they are also commonly used as a general tonic for the liver, gallbladder, pancreas, spleen, kidneys, stomach, and intestines. In addition to lowering serum cholesterol and uric acid levels, dandelions have been used to treat anemia, cirrhosis of the liver, hepatitis, and jaundice. Some women have reported that dandelions helped with the discomforts of menopause. Some people who experience hot flashes also have liver congestion. Hormones that have served their purpose and are ready to be discarded become stuck in the liver due to congestion and are used and reused until they become poisonous.

Some people, though, can't resist using dandelions in their culinary creations. Dr. Peter Gail, president and creator of The Defenders of Dandelions, has compiled a global database of recipes and folklore for using wild plants. He has over 3000 recipes involving 105 different plants, including over 600 involving dandelions alone. As a small boy, he was introduced to weeds by a friend of Gail's family and began eating them out of necessity. Dr. Gail's company, Goosefoot Acres, planned to host a national dandelion cook-off in Dover, Ohio, in 1994 to raise awareness about the many potential uses for this common weed. Each year, on the first weekend of May, people from all across the country travel to participate in the annual Dandelion Dish Contest.

If you plan on eating raw dandelion greens, you should go out and get them when the leaves are young and fragile. There are no flowers yet. You can get more sensitive leaves by cutting the plant back to the root after it blooms and waiting about two weeks. All summer long, you can do this. Dandelions grown in soil that has been treated repeatedly with herbicides may not be safe for human consumption. 

Half a pound of fresh dandelion greens, chopped; one small onion, minced; eight ounces of fresh mushrooms, chopped; two tablespoons of balsamic vinegar; three tablespoons of olive oil; one half teaspoon each of salt and black pepper; serves four. Chris Atzberger of Columbus, Ohio Roll and dish out. Dandelion greens are a nice addition to other types of salad greens, in my opinion. Similarly to other greens, they can be cooked. After draining, I wouldn't get rid of the water because that's where most of the nutrients are. The two methods my wife and I agree on for preparing greens are steaming them in water or sautéing them in olive oil, garlic, salt, and pepper. Gail Harshbarger from Akron, Ohio, shares her go-to summertime appetizer recipe, including dandelion greens and tomatoes. 

You will need 15 Roma tomatoes or 8 regular tomatoes, half a cup of chopped onions, one clove of minced garlic, a quarter cup each of diced sweet yellow and red peppers, two cups of chopped dandelion greens, and a cup of crumbled feta cheese. Mix together 1/4 cup of red wine or Italian dressing, 1/2 teaspoon of mixed dried herbs, 1 tablespoon of Worcestershire sauce, and 1/4 cup of Parmesan cheese. Toss everything but the tomatoes together in a bowl. Put it in the fridge and let it chill for an hour. Split the tomatoes in half lengthwise and remove the pulp. Fill the tomatoes with the dandelion mixture and top with Parmesan. Before cooling, my wife typically incorporates the tomato pulp she removed from the can into the dandelion mixture. Baking is another option.

The therapeutic value of dandelions lies primarily in their roots. The plant can be dug up, dried, and sliced to make tea. About 30 minutes of simmering time is required. Dandelion tea is available for purchase with dandelion pills for those who want to reap the advantages of dandelion without taking any unnecessary risks.

Dandy Blend, made from dandelion root, is a healthy alternative to coffee. Enjoy the rich coffee flavor of Dandy Blend in your baked goods or as a delightful topping for vanilla ice cream.

I always stop to appreciate the grace and usefulness of dandelions when I come upon them. Please treat your dandelion flowers with care.

This article, written by Michael Comeau, is intended solely for educational purposes. It is not meant to detect, treat, or cure any illness. When in doubt about your health, see your doctor.