Have you ever eaten dandelions?
When I was little, my grandmother would send me out to the yard to pick dandelion leaves. After I brought them in, we’d put them in a large bowl and soak them in salt water, rinse, and then soak them again, and then soak them again (because third time is the charm), and then rinse well, making sure to get all the grit out.
When foraging outside, it’s important to pay attention to where the greens are located. For example: are they close to the road where car exhaust could adversely affect them? This time, I only had to venture to the back porch because this year, my husband made a planter with dandelions for me.
After the greens were clean and dry, Nana poured a dressing of oil, vinegar, salt, and pepper over the leaves and voila! Dandelion salad.
Making and eating this salad today was a wonderful way to connect me to nature, but also to my grandmother, who died many years ago but who is still influencing my life!
Read more about the health benefits of eating dandelions here: Dandelions Health Benefits
If you decide to try this salad, let me know what you think in the comments.
Happy eating!
Karen Creamer
