When most people think of flowers eating them isn’t the first thing that comes to mind. However, many of the beautiful plants can be eaten and can add color and texture to a raw salad or even a cooked meal. Some are sweet and yummy by themselves while others need a little extra love to make them enjoyable. So make sure to check before just chomping on the first flower you recognize! Unfortunately, no flower is really safe unless it was grown organically without the use of pesticides or chemicals. In lieu of this, always make sure to use organically grown species. Also, make sure to thoroughly wash your flowers before eating.
很多人在想起花的時候,第一想法不是食用。事實上,很多漂亮的植物都可以食用亦或是給生沙拉甚至是熟食賦予色澤提升口感。有些植物自身甜而美味,有些則需要一些呵護才能讓人們賞心悅目。所以在你食用之前確保檢查清查花的屬性。遺憾的是,除非是有機種植并且沒有使用殺蟲劑和化學肥料,不然沒有能安全放心食用的花。所以,要確保食用有機種植的品種并且在大快朵頤之前記得徹底清洗它們。
It’s also important to remove pistils and stamens from flowers before eating. Sometimes these parts of the flower are not as tasty as the rest. You may want to separate the flower petals from the rest of the flower just prior to use to keep wilting to a minimum.
還有一點很重要,記得在食用之前把雌雄花蕊去掉,因為有時候花蕊沒有其它部分好吃。你最好在花瓣開始萎縮之前把它們剝離。
Dandelion: this common weed does not get the credit it deserves. The greens of the plant are packed with antioxidants and minerals containing a high level of potassium. Although the plant can be a bit bitter, for those who don’t mind (think Arugula), it can be a wonderful addition to any salad. To satisfy the sweeter taste buds, check out this awesome recipe for Dandelion syrup.
蒲公英:這種普通的植物并未獲得它應有的聲望。這種植物里有大量富含鉀的抗氧化劑和礦物質。雖然味道苦了點,若要使不介意,可以是很好的沙拉添加劑。為了滿足甜蜜的味覺,看看這個可怕的蒲公英糖漿食譜。
Day Lily: this flower has a sweet taste and can be eaten raw. The tubers of the roots can be boiled and eaten like mini potatoes. Just remove the stalks and hairs and, of course, the dirt. The flower buds are a good source of Vitamin C and Carotene. Be careful! Lillis are deadly to kitty cats.
黃花菜:這種花味甜而且能生吃。根部的塊莖可以像小土豆一樣煮著吃。當然要除去莖和莖上得絨毛以及泥土。花蕾中富含維生素C和胡蘿卜素。
Hibiscus: the flowers can be eaten, but the best way to use hibiscus is to make an infused tea. Just take ten or so flowers and soak them in hot water. Add lime for flavor and enjoy. Drinking it cold is just as delicious as hot, so for a nice summer day, put it on ice!
木槿:木槿花也能吃,但是最好是用來沏茶。取十幾朵木槿花放進開水中。可以加點酸橙調味,然后就盡情享用吧。這種茶涼了和熱的時候一樣好喝,所以在炎炎夏日,把它放在冰上。
Honeysuckle: the base of the flower holds a sweet tasting nectar that can be eaten, and the entire flower makes a great addition to any spring or summer salad.
金銀花:花的底部有很甜得花蜜,可供食用。整朵花可以作為春天或者夏日的沙拉作料。
Lilac: the beautiful smelling lilac (you guessed it) tastes how it smells, but is delicate and not overwhelming. Lilac is best used as a garnish. For something different try mixing it in vanilla frozen yogurt for an interesting treat.
丁香花:漂亮好聞的丁香花(你猜對了)嘗起來和聞起來一樣美味,但是味道要清淡些。丁香花最好是用作配菜。嘗試著把它和普通酸奶混合在一起絕對是一件有趣的事情。
Calendula: this flower has been coined the “Poor Man’s Saffron.” Its flavor ranges from tangy to spicy with a bit of a peppery aftertaste. It’s a great complement to rice dishes, soups and pasta. The flower can also be used as a great herbal remedy.
金盞花:被稱作“窮人的藏紅花“。味道從刺鼻的到辛辣的不等,有胡椒的后味。是做米飯,煮湯,做面食的好作料。還有不錯的植物療效呢。
Rose Hips: these circular buds have played an essential role in the Native American diet for a long time. Like the Day Lily, Rose Hips contain Vitamin C, and store well when dried properly. For a refreshing twist try making “Rosebud Ice Cubes.”
玫瑰果:這些圓形的蓓蕾很長一段時間里在美國本土的飲食上有著舉足輕重的作用。和黃花菜一樣,玫瑰果也富含維生素C,并且能要是干燥處理得好的話能很好地保存下來。一個令人耳目一新的嘗試是做“玫瑰花蕾冰塊”。
Squash Blossoms: the orange, yellow blossom found at the top of the squash can be cooked or eaten raw. Be careful, the flower perishes fast, and if you want to use them try to pick them right before you cook. Like Quesadillas? Like flowers in your Quesadillas? Try this quirky recipe.
南瓜花:這種橙色或者黃色的長在南瓜科植物上得花能炒菜甚至生吃。需要注意的是,這種話死亡很快,在你炒菜之前采摘就可以了。喜歡玉米餅嗎?或者是里面加點花的玉米餅,那就試試這種古怪的方法吧。
Violets: the flowers, along with the heart-shaped leaves of the wild Violet, are edible. Both can be used to add color and complexity to salads. The flower is often used to make jellies and teas and can also be candied and used as a decorative garnish.
紫羅蘭:野生的紫羅蘭有著心形的葉子,可以使用。既可以用來調色也可以用來當沙拉作料。這種花經常被用來制作果凍和沏茶,用糖煮了以后還可以當配菜。
Carnations: as sweet as they are beautiful, Carnations can be steeped in wine or eaten plain. If you’re the baking type think about creating a beautiful design on top of a cake using these flowers or some of the others mentioned above.
康乃馨:甜而美麗的花。可以用來泡酒和食用。假如你是一個喜歡烘烤的人,并且想在糕點表面弄點新花樣,那么可以考慮以上介紹的幾種花。