TOP EDIBLE FLOWERS: HEALTH BENEFITS & COOKING TIPS

Flowers delight me. My friends, my family know how much they do and they are so thoughtful to bring me flowers often. But, I think my all-time favorite bouquets I have received over the years were the ones my children gave to me when they were teeny-tiny – weeds and all!

But, weeds or not, flowers look pretty incredible wherever they are – bunched up in a tiny child’s hand, in a field, a landscaped garden, in a vase by your front door or on your plate.  Yes, on your plate and in your food. They are lovely there, too, and can make your next dish a beautiful sight, add unique flavor and even provide health benefits, too.

Not every flower is edible though, so scroll on down to see 5 best that I chose that are and critical tips to use them correctly! And, don’t miss some favorite tools to use and grow your own edible flowers as well!

THE TASTE OF EDIBLE FLOWERS

Edible flowers are magical and add tremendous flair to your dishes, drinks, desserts, and appetizers, but what about the taste? Does it add to the flavor of what you are serving?

Edible flowers add flair to your cooking but some have health benefits, too! Learn which top 5 edible flowers to use, find recipes and tips and tools to use and grown them, too! #edibleflowers #cookingtips #foodpresentation #entertainingtips

Generally, if you note the scent you take in from the flower, it will give you an idea of the taste.  Further, if the flower is stemming from an herb or vegetable, the flower’s taste is usually a more delicate version of the food item.  For example, the chive blossom tastes very much like chive but milder. And, squash blossoms taste like a more temperate version of the squash as well.

 

 

 

5 TOP EDIBLE FLOWERS

Here are five edible flowers that can add some nutrient punch to your dishes as well as provide unique flavor and color.  If you feel like experimenting, I provide a link to an interesting recipe on how to use each one, too.

Edible flowers add flair to your cooking but some have health benefits, too! Learn which top 5 edible flowers to use, find recipes and tips and tools to use and grown them, too! #edibleflowers #cookingtips #foodpresentation #entertainingtips

1. VIOLETS

Violets contain phytochemicals with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties that help strengthen capillary walls.  They taste sweet and you may have seen them adorning wedding cakes and desserts. This wild violet vinegar sounds like an interesting addition to your next bowl of salad greens and what a beautiful gift idea.

2. LAVENDER

Lavender contains vitamin A, calcium and iron and it could be calming to your central nervous system. Try your hand at this gorgeous gluten-free and raw fig, cherry, lavender and honey cake. It was made by raw foods chef Lauren Glucina and makes quite an impression.

3. CHIVE BLOSSOMS

Chive blossoms contain vitamin C, iron and sulfur, and may be used to help support healthy blood pressure levels.  Here is a new way to serve scalloped potatoes with the colorful addition of chive blossoms for a stunning presentation and flavor.

4. SQUASH BLOSSOMS

I have grown zucchini and the squash blossoms on those plants are to behold. They are high in calcium and iron and especially high in vitamins C and A. The blooms really are gigantic and lovely and taste great stuffed with all sorts of things.  Cheese is a common stuffing but I thought this lighter version of spaghetti with squash blossom butter and green beans sounds easy and bright.

5. ROSE PETALS

Some say rose petals can act as a mild sedative and even enhance your mood. They do contain bioflavonoids and antioxidants, as well as vitamins A, B3, C and E. This rose petal honey sounds terrific drizzled in some English breakfast tea or over some fresh fruit for breakfast or afternoon snack.

3 CRITICAL TIPS TO USING EDIBLE FLOWERS

Before using edible flowers in your cooking, three important tips are listed below to consider to ensure your technique is a success:

 

Edible flowers add flair to your cooking but some have health benefits, too! Learn which top 5 edible flowers to use, find recipes and tips and tools to use and grown them, too! #edibleflowers #cookingtips #foodpresentation #entertainingtips

1.  CAREFUL WHAT YOU CHOOSE.

Unless you grow the flowers yourself from seed and know they have not been sprayed with pesticide, choose edible flowers from your market that have been specifically grown for eating and are organic.

2.  REMOVE CERTAIN PARTS.

The pistils and stamens from flowers taste very bitter and contain pollen, an irritant to many.  Make sure to remove them first.  Always rinse the flowers with cool water very gently to rid of any remaining pollen or dirt that may have adhered to the petals.

3.  EARLY IS BEST.

If picking your own flowers, choose them in the morning before they wilt in the sun.  Store them in the refrigerator with a damp paper towel in a plastic bag.

SOME TOP TOOLS FOR USING & GROWING EDIBLE FLOWERS

Check out these tools to use edible flowers in your food presentation and even grow them yourself, too:

 

 

FOR EVEN MORE ON THE TOPIC . . .

Tap on some of these links for even more ideas on the topic:

 

 

A PIN TO SAVE FOR LATER & SHARE

Here is a pin to save and share to your Pinterest account to come back to this information later:

Edible flowers add flair to your cooking but some have health benefits, too! Learn which top 5 edible flowers to use, find recipes and tips and tools to use and grown them, too! #edibleflowers #cookingtips #foodpresentation #entertainingtips

 

Have you used or grown your own edible flowers before? What did you think? Please tell us and give a link to a recipe you have created or liked in the comments.

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