Flowers have been consumed since the Roman Empire when the elite decorated their feast with Rose petals, which were meant to be eaten. Violets and gladiolus bulbs were a part of the feast. Nasturtiums, marigold and violets have been a part of English salads since the 17th century, and in the Victorian age violets were being candied and preserved too. Edible flowers can be used in drinks, jellies, salads, soups, and as an added flavor for main dishes. Some popular edible flowers are daisies, pansies, day lilies, marigold and sunflower.
But before you start tearing your garden apart and eating all the flowers, there are some things you must keep in mind. Not all flowers are edible, in fact many of them are toxic and some are poisonous too. Edible flowers are available at farmer’s markets and some supermarkets too. Make sure you buy edible flowers that are organically grown without the use of any pesticides whatsoever. You can even grow them in your own garden. If you are allergic to pollen, you would do best to avoid them even though the pollen is to be removed before eating the flower.
How then do you use these Edible flowers? You could create a colorful salad, or leave some petals in the sugar box for flavored sugar. Edible flowers can be candied using sugar and white eggs. These are frozen and eaten as dessert or as a garnish on cakes and jelly. Here’s an interesting edible flower recipe for Lavender flavored chicken you may like to try at home. (Serves 8)
Ingredients-:
5 pounds chicken
¼ cup dried lavender (available at health food stores)
5 cloves garlic, minced
¾ cup olive oil
¼ cup of fresh lemon juice
Zest of 1 large lemon
1 tbsp fresh thyme leaves, minced
Salt and pepper to taste
Sprigs of fresh lavender
Directions-:
Mix all the ingredients together, except for the Chicken and fresh lavender springs. This is your marinade.
Pour marinade over the chicken, cover and refrigerate it for 4-6 hours. Turn it 2-3 times.
Prepare the grill and when ready, place chicken pieces over direct fire to sear it on each side. Then move to sides of grill, cover and cook through indirect heat until thoroughly cooked. Turn it once. It will take about 10 minutes per side. The chicken can also be cooked in the oven at 375 degrees.
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