Many types of flowers are edible. It's popular to decorate wedding cakes with fresh flowers and greens, but keep in mind that some flowers taste better than others. Susan Belsinger, author of Flowers in the Kitchen: A Bouquet of Tasty Recipes (Interweave Press, 1991), offers tips on using edible flowers. Daylilies are among the best-tasting flowers. They have a sweet, crunchy texture, rather like lettuce. These perennials need full sun but aren't fussy about soil. They make beautiful cut flowers as well -- but each bloom lasts for just one day. Use daylilies in conjunction with dips, freeze them around balls of sherbet or ice cream, or add them to salads. Make sure you can identify any flower before eating it -- and make certain that it isn't poisonous. It's best to use only flowers from your own garden so you can make sure they haven't been sprayed with pesticides. If flowers have been treated with insecticidal soap, a low-toxicity pesticide, wait seven days before consuming them. All herb flowers are edible. Oregano produces beautiful flowers (figure A), which make good garnishes. Chives produce lovely purple flower that are excellent in salads or as a garnish with cheeses. Chives have a sweet onionlike flavor. To use chive flowers, snip the base of the blooms so the florets scatter across the dish. Or dip them in a light batter and quickly fry them. Cilantro blooms (figure B) also have a unique flavor and taste great in fresh vegetable dishes. Other edible annual flowers include Johnny-jump-ups (Viola tricolor) (figure C), chrysanthemums, nasturtiums and marigolds. Nasturtium is related to watercress and has a surprising peppery flavor. All of these plants may be grown in containers near the kitchen to make harvesting them easier on the chef. When you bring flowers inside, wash them off before serving to remove any insects that might be hiding.
RESOURCES :
Flowers in the Kitchen: A Boquet of Tasty Recipes
Model: 0934026637
Author: Book by Susan Belsinger & Joe Coca (Photograpgher)
Interweave Press
July 1991
Interweave Press Inc.
Website: interweave.com
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