Dandelion Greens: Delicious Spring Edibles

Dandelion greens are simply the tender young leaves of dandelion plants. They are some of the first green leaves to appear in the early spring, and they are packed with nutrition. March and April are the best time to gather dandelion greens here in the Midwest. I don't pick leaves that are more than 3-4 inches long, because I think they begin to taste a little bitter when they are larger. Mixed baby lettuces, or mesclun, sometimes contain dandelion leaves, and you can try mixing in your own freshly gathered wild leaves.

The flavor of baby dandelion leaves is very good. If you are an "iceberg lettuce" eater they might seem a little tangy. Bleu Cheese dressing or Roquefort is my favorite with wild greens. If you like wilted lettuce, add some baby dandelion leaves and spinach for a real treat. (See my recipe for Wilted Lettuce.)

Gather lots of dandelion greens and you can cook them as you would spinach or any other greens. Add dandelion to a pot of spinach or kale and it will kick up the vitamin content. Dandelion leaves are high in vitamins A, C, E, K, B vitamins, and a variety of minerals. One cup of raw chopped dandelion greens contains 24mg of Omega 3 fatty acids, and 144mg of Omega 6 fatty acids. You can read more detailed nutritional information here.

Dandelion flowers are used to make wine. They ferment well due to a high sugar content, as you might guess by watching butterflies and bees flock to the yellow flowers. And more importantly, the flowers also contain high amounts of antioxidants. Dandelion flowers and leaves are dried and used as tea. The leaves have a diuretic effect and have been used for centuries to treat kidney ailments. Dandelion root is used for liver detoxification, as an anti-viral, as an appetite stimulant, and for general gastrointestinal health. The plant is thought by some to strengthen the immune system. Native Americans used dandelion extensively as a general tonic and a remedy for specific conditions. Although no standardized studies on humans have been done, some studies indicate that dandelion may balance blood sugar in diabetic mice, and it also improves lipid profiles of LDL/HDL and triglycerides in mice.

Be sure that you gather dandelion greens from a pet-free yard that you are sure has not been sprayed with any kind of chemicals. Lawn chemicals are long lasting and very toxic.

Later in the summer, when the leaves are too tough and bitter to eat, I let the dandelions go to seed in my yard. Goldfinches will hang on the stems, picking out the seeds to eat. Sometimes when I walk into the yard in the early morning just after the flowers have opened, there will be a flurry of wings and yellow bodies as the goldfinches fly up out of the dew. It has to be the easiest way ever to feed the birds.

http://www.nutritiondata.com/facts/vegetables-and-vegetable-products/2441/2

http://www.umm.edu/altmed/articles/dandelion-000236.htm