BEAUTIFUL GEMS FOR THE KITCHEN. GARDEN VARIETY EDIBLE FLOWERS THAT ARE OFTEN OVERLOOKED.

Most of the content I write here on Steemit regarding edible or medicinal plants usually has to do with varieties found in the wild. But surprisingly there are a number of flowering plants that we walk by all the time that have culinary uses that we completely miss out on. So in this short post I'm going to cover some rather tasty beautiful flowering plants that have uses in the kitchen. This is aimed at beginners as I'm sure the experienced foraging folks in the various tags here on Steemit have come across these variety's. So without further preamble let's jump in.

Fuschia

This is a stunning plant and incredibly common, I have spotted in every garden center I've frequented in over 7 different countries between two continents. The blooms make a wonderful addition to any salad and the berries it produces taste like a spicy water chestnut. It can be consumed raw the fruits don't hold up to being cooked well. If you are harvesting from a public park or communal area be aware of pesticides. Safe is always better than sorry.

Calendula

I don't know why but when I was little I used to find the name of this plant fun to say. It is one of my favorite domestic garden plants in truth. Most know it as poor mans saffron. It has a number of health benefits in regards to healthy skin that are to many to list as it's a quick post.. But if you want to add some color to your curry dish then look no further than this bloom. You chop it up just like you would a bulb of garlic and chuck it in... Though it does stain a bit so gloves may be a good idea. If you want to use it raw it's an amazing peppery and colorful addition to any salad. Oh, it dries and keeps wonderfully as well. So rather than go broke buying saffron you may want to give this little guy a go. You won't be disappointed.

Day Lilly

So I have to point out that most Lilly species are toxic so always make sure you have Day Lilly and not one of it's dangerous counterparts. I've found that this plant is sort of like a sharp asparagus when cooked. You can use butter or oil for a quick pan fry or a bamboo steamer. It will keep it's color through the cooking process. A fun thing to do with it is to use it along side things like pork, chicken, or fish as it adds a real colorful contrast to the white meat on a plate. If you're cooking with this bloom remember that savory is your friend. So things like butter, pancetta or smoked meats, and salt all get along with this wonderful flower.

Viola

So I discovered the many uses for this bloom over 8 years ago while on holiday in France. You could write a recipe book on it in truth. If the Day Lilly's friend is savory then the Viola's friend is sweet. It retains it's flavor when reduced down to syrups and brings a beautiful purple color to any desert dish.. If you add a spoon full of Viola syrup to a glass of prosecco it's a real treat. Though I've seen the bloom used in various types of liquors, preserves, and marmalade's as well. One of my favorites is a blackberry jam with Viola blooms in it. This is an amazing flower to play with in the kitchen and it never disappoints.

Clover

If you are a fan of cucumber in your salad then giving this plants blooms a go is a must. It can be found growing wild almost everywhere and often has a variety of colors to its blooms. There's a reason the deer and rabbits love it so much though as it has quite a strong and distinctive flavor that's a real compliment to any light salad. So if you don't have any luck finding a four leaf clover to help you with your luck you can always grab a few to compliment your salad.

Righto, so that's it for now. I am probably going to do future posts on this topic soon. By the way, if you guys haven't checked out @naturalmedicine yet and you have interests in healthy food then give it a go. There are some wonderful tags popping up around there that are awesome if you have an interest in healthy eating, natural remedies, and all around great ideas for sustainable healthy living. The people are awesome as well.

Thank you so much for taking the time to give this little post a read. I look forward to checking out all your amazing posts and projects. As always keep on Steeming. :)

image credits: firstcomeflowers.typepab.com helloplants.com edennaturallivingboutique gardeningknowhow.com thespruce.com Johnysseeds.com