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Post by mjc on Apr 14, 2010 8:12:49 GMT -5
But I will say that I think there is a good reason that of all the edible species, most of us rely on maybe 20 basic staples. Um...yeah, while many of those not so basic species are indeed, edible...they aren't exactly eatable. Case in point...Queen Ann's Lace...kind of tastes like a carrot but more like trying to chew an oak plank. Some selection went into finding the larger, more tender roots, long before the fancy colors came into being...but I'd still rather a carrot than QAL. There are tons of other plants that will fall into the 'needs some selection/development' before they will ever be more than a 'backup' or a 'spring tonic'... |
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Post by ottawagardener on Apr 14, 2010 10:03:11 GMT -5
I have to say that sometimes an irregular edible will totally surprise me with how good it tastes and I'll wonder, why aren't we eating more of it? On the flipside, the reason why some plants aren't more consumed seems to be more about the industrial food complex, cultural / historical events and a loss of the connection between rural and urban. Then again, some just taste like grass...
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Post by rhizowen on Apr 26, 2010 6:09:07 GMT -5
Depends which grass - have you tried Alaskan oniongrass - Melica subulata - nutty flavoured corms - nice. I lost my plants - I think I ate them to extinction.
If anyone in the western US can get hold of some seeds for me......
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Post by ottawagardener on May 15, 2010 7:56:33 GMT -5
Sounds delicious... if you get seeds...
I ate some of my hostas the other night.
Small variegated just before the leaf unfurling: nice steamed with vinegar. No strong flavour
Small green at the spike stage: A bit bitter but still good.
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Post by raymondo on May 16, 2010 16:13:26 GMT -5
I found a site that suggested hosta flowers too as an edible. Given that young hosta leaves are irresistible to the myriad slugs in my garden I might have to be content with flowers.
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Post by stevil on Jun 5, 2010 4:42:55 GMT -5
A delicacy in Japan are blanched Hosta shoots - these are cultivated and have become quite popular in recent years. I therefore blanched some this year - just covered with a large pot - they both look and tasted good   |
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Post by toad on Jun 11, 2010 15:47:09 GMT -5
This really looks convincing :-)
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