Ultimate Dandelion Guide - 20+ Dandelion Recipes and Dandelion Crafts (2024)

FAQs

Can I eat dandelions from my yard? ›

Not only are dandelion greens safe to eat, but they also provide a range of health benefits. All parts of a dandelion plant are edible, from the top of the yellow flower down to the roots. The green leaves of the dandelion can make a healthy addition to salads, sandwiches, omelets, and more.

Dandelion has a typical plant structure: a root-shoot axis with leaves produced on the shoot. It is an herbaceous perennial plant that forms rosettes, very short stems with leaves occurring in a circular pattern. As is true in all flowering plants, in the axils of each leaf is an axillary bud.

The leaves are used to stimulate the appetite and help digestion. Dandelion flower has antioxidant properties. Dandelion may also help improve the immune system. Herbalists use dandelion root to detoxify the liver and gallbladder, and dandelion leaves to help kidney function.

Dandelions contain bioactive compounds that may help lower a person's cholesterol. Research conducted in vivo and in vitro has shown that dandelion may be able to help reduce blood lipids. This can include lipids, including cholesterol and triglycerides.

The antioxidants can help you stay healthy and happy all year long. Brew your dandelion tea using roots, flowers, or leaves. You can forage for dandelions in the woods or pluck them right in your own garden.

The entire plant is edible, from the flowers to the roots. These are some of my favorite recipes that I enjoy each year from the dandelions that grow close to me.

A dandelion flower means coquetry (flirt) and love's oracle (love's authoritative or wise utterance). The tops from dandelions are used in salads and as a cooking green.

Dandelion could increase the risk of complications for someone who has kidney disease, in particular. Because the potassium in dandelion may impact blood flow and clotting, it's best to avoid dandelion tea if you're taking blood-thinner medication..

The dandelion is a well-known weed. Yet, this humble plant is also a symbol of hope, healing, and resilience in many cultures around the world from Europe to Asia. Within the Asteraceae family, there are thirty different species of dandelion.

Is it safe to take dandelion every day? While consuming dandelion as part of a balanced diet is likely safe for most people, more research is needed on taking dandelion as a supplement. Some people may have an allergic reaction to dandelion.

Are dandelions healthier cooked or raw? ›

Dandelion greens are packed with nutrients, but calcium and iron are the most prominent. Raw dandelion greens contain 10% of the DV for each mineral, whereas cooked dandelion greens contain between 11% and 15% of the DV.

Dandelions pack a whole lot of vitamins and minerals into a small plant. “They're probably the most nutritionally dense green you can eat — outstripping even kale or spinach,” Geib says. Dandelion greens, in particular, are a great source of vitamins and minerals such as: Vitamins A, C and K.

Dandelion leaf is a safe and gentle herb for stimulating the kidneys and helping them to function efficiently. It contains bitter glycosides, carotenoids, potassium, iron and other minerals, and is regularly used by herbalists to treat fluid retention which often causes swollen ankles and generally puffy skin.

Interestingly, a Korean study found that dandelion may have similar effects on the body as weight loss drug Orlistat. Some data shows that this anti-obesity drug can help reduce the amount of belly fat, the most dangerous fat linked to Type 2 diabetes, heart disease, some forms of cancer, etc.

In the fight against heart disease, you need to have healthy cholesterol. And research shows that dandelions may help by reducing triglyceride levels, which are just as bad as having high levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol.

The dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) is an abundant “weed” plant that also happens to be edible. In fact, nearly the entire plant can be consumed in one way or another. The only inedible part is the stem, which contains a very bitter, milky substance. Let's start at the top: the flowers.

Cooking dandelions eliminates some of the bitterness. First boil the greens for about 5 minutes, then transfer to a pan with hot olive oil and garlic, and sautee for 3-5 minutes. Eat as is or add to other dishes like pasta or scrambled eggs.

To harvest dandelions, slip a knife into the dirt and cut dandelion root just under the basel rosette. Pop it out of the ground and shake off any dirt or debris clinging to the plant. Although not necessary, dandelions are easiest to clean if you let them soak overnight in a sink full of cold water.

Dandelion Fritters Recipe

Add egg and milk to the dry ingredients. Heat oil, covering the bottom of a pan. Dip or fold blossoms into the batter and drop, one or two at a time, into the hot pan. Fry until golden brown, flip and fry the other side.