After a long winter, it can be a relief to see the first few signs of spring…

Like a groundhog not seeing his shadow, the sight of dandelions, to me, is indication that warmer weather is on its way. You may not think of using dandelions in your kitchen, but they are both edible and medicinal! These dandelion recipes will get you started with using these common spring flowers.

Wildcrafting Weeds ebook

Before we get started with these dandelion recipes I want to let you know about my ebook!

Wildcrafting Weeds: 20 Easy to Forage Edible and Medicinal Plants (that might be growing in your backyard!) gives you foraging and identification tips along with full color photos and recipes for using your foraged weeds. Be sure to check it out!

Foraging for the Whole Dandelion Plant

From root to flower, dandelions (Taraxacum officinale), are edible and have medicinal benefits. This wild edible can help improve digestion issues, is a remedy for kidney and liver ailments, and has an array of benefits for the skin.

Foraging for dandelions is also a simple task, as they’re easily identifiable and can often be found in your own backyard!

Make sure you’re only picking as much as you need and never harvesting all of any wild food, as we’re not the only species to enjoy the benefits of plants! Also important is only gathering from areas you know to be clean and that have not been sprayed with pesticides.

From infused drinks to skin soothing beauty products, baked goods and savory dishes, there are endless creative and delicious opportunities to utilize this versatile plant!

Dandelion Drinks

As mentioned above, this introduced European perennial is loaded with medicinal properties. An excellent way to absorb dandelion’s vitamins A, C, B, and K is to create a standard decoction of the root.

If you are harvesting the roots in spring, keep in mind that they are less medicinally active than if you were harvesting them in fall. Nonetheless they can be sweeter, more nourishing, and contain high levels of inulin.

A standard infusion of the flowers can be made into a refreshing and beautifully colored iced tea with lime that can be enjoyed beach side.

Headed to the pool? Bask in the sun with a glass of dandelion and fennel kombucha, lemonade, or naturally fermented dandelion soda in your hand.

For you coffee drinkers out there, dandelion makes a delicious alternative in this roasted root coffee with chicory root and cinnamon.

Need a hot drink sans caffeine? Blend together a mix of spices and savor a mug full of dandelion root chai tea.

If you’re looking for unique libation, this dandelion mead recipe is for you!

If that doesn’t quite strike your fancy, keep it classy with this dandelion wine that has hints of orange and lemon.

If you’re more of a beer drinker, this dandelion beer recipe should certainly hit the spot.

Dandelion Sweets & Baked Goods

When I fantasize about dandelion baked goods, I imagine that it’s a warm spring morning. As the sun comes up, I whip up a heaping stack of delicious sourdough dandelion pancakes topped with dandelion flower syrup.

As the sun reaches higher in the sky, I head out for a hike, bringing along in my daypack a nettle seed and dandelion blossom superfood bar for an on-the-go energy boost. Upon reaching the summit, I spread a blanket across grass that has only recently turned a vibrant shade of green after spring rain.

I remove from my pack, hearty paleo dandelion root muffins and dandelion rosemary shortbread cookiesthat are both sweet and savory. As I sit cross-legged watching the clouds pass, taking the first sweet bite, I wonder just where exactly those clouds are rushing off to so quickly. Returning from my reverie, I can’t help but grin!

In the mood for a party and not a picnic at the summit? Intrigue your guests with dandelion and honey ice cream, a dandelion lemon bar, or a slice of dandelion rhubarb pie.

If you’re looking for wow factor, try your hand at making these beautiful dandelion macarons or paleo cupcakes!

If you’re needing something a little more savory in your life, bake up a loaf of dandelion bread and slather on a generous layer of dandelion honey butter. Or make the kids a peanut butter and low sugar dandelion jelly or dandelion marmalade sandwich!

Dandelion Savory Dishes

Dandelion flowers and leaves lend themselves well to tons of delectable savory dishes. One popular technique is to deep fry the flower in a crispy fritter.

Look no further than a slice of dandelion quiche or sauteed dandelion greens with eggs with a drizzle of dandelion vinegar to shake up your breakfast routine!

Having a dinner party? Let the dandelion shine as the star of every dish! Start by serving some pita chips and vegetables with a side of dandelion pesto.

Follow that with this gorgeous dandelion green tart and watch the jaws of your guests as they drop when you place it in the middle of the table!

Try a nourishing, detoxifying, and paleo friendly cauliflower and dandelion soup or enjoy a pasta with dandelion greens, garlic, and pine nuts if you’re wanting comfort food.

These dandelion egg noodles are easy to make and versatile. Add them to soups, casseroles, curries, or any dish that benefits from having noodles! If you find that the leaves are too bitter for your taste buds, try braising, blanching, or adding salt and acid to mellow them out.

Capers grow in the Mediterranean region of Europe, but you can pickle or lacto ferment your own alternative using young dandelion flower buds. Replace capers with fermented dandelion buds on a smoked salmon, lox, and cream cheese bagel!

If you’re not finding enough buds to ferment, try pickling dandelion flowers, leaves, and buds together with garlic, red onion, and ginger.

Dandelion Bath & Body

The benefits of dandelion root can help heal acne, boils, and abscesses. Try making this dandelion root facial toner mist with added witch hazel to heal blemishes on your skin.

In addition to the roots being great in skin care products, the flowers and leaves can be used to tighten and brighten the skin. Using aloe and vitamin E, create this dandy facial serum to reap the anti aging properties of this powerful plant.

I don’t know about you, but in the winter my skin can become dry and cracked. Start a new shower ritual with this moisturizing cold-processed dandelion soap that’s loaded with the blossoms, leaves, and roots. While you’re at it, make your scalp happy with a dandelion shampoo bar. I promise your hair will shine!

If  hand washing dishes dries you out, fill a cute pump dispenser with dandelion and honey liquid soapand say goodbye to cracked skin!

Have a hike planned for this year? Be prepared with this dandelion salve made with an infused dandelion oil and shea butter. Rub some on tired sore muscles or any other aches and pains you have along the way.

Looking to make a skin soothing infusion with ingredients you already have on hand? Try whipping up a dandelion and coconut oil moisturizer or lotion bars.

You could even create a large batch of dandelion lip balm or bath bombs to give the gift that keeps on giving over the winter holiday season!

Dandelion Remedies

Because dandelions are rich with vitamins and minerals, along with other essential nutrients, there are many ways to use them as remedies for common ailments. They also have the ability to aid a host of skin ailments with their abundance of antioxidants.

Within the stem and leaves, there’s a highly alkaline milky white sap that has germicidal, fungicidal, and insecticidal properties. These properties are extremely useful in various skin diseases caused by microbial and fungal infections. The sap can be applied to the skin to relieve itching, bruising, eczema, and even help to dissolve warts!

A few drops of this digestive herbal dandelion root tincture can help relieve gas, hepatitis, cirrhosis, prevent heartburn, and gallstones. Being a diuretic, it can also be used to heal UTIs by expelling excess fluid from the body.

Use dandelion root bitters in an aperitif cocktail or take a few drops before a meal to stimulate digestion and calm the nervous system. Another beneficial way to utilize the roots is by infusing them in honey. Add that to your afternoon tea for a medicinal treat!

Before I started taking a daily magnesium supplement, I frequently suffered from restless leg syndrome. If I knew then what I know now, I would have jumped on the chance to make this dandelion and magnesium lotion and maybe I still will! Dandelion and magnesium make quite the couple because of the dandelion’s powerful pain relieving properties and magnesium’s ability to control muscle contractions.

The leaves of this nutritious springtime herb are rich in choline, vitamin A, and C. Choline does a wonderful job of keeping your liver functioning properly by helping along the circulation of bile and metabolizing fats. Use those liver-supporting greens in soups, salads, sautes, and more!

Another way to keep your liver happy is to make an overnight decoction of dandelion and nettles. In addition to the medicinal properties of dandelion and nettle, this detoxifying iced tea combines an assortment of nutritious plants like burdock, red clover, and hibiscus.

Are you surprised at how many (and there are many!) recipes there are available to us to receive the medicinal gifts this plant is offering?

After putting together this compilation, it’s even more a shock to me that dandelions are still being sprayed with chemicals or pulled up from yards because they’re thought to be undesirable. Lets all spread the word of the dandelion’s usefulness!

Which recipes are you most looking forward to creating? I love foraging, but only now am I digging deeper into the medicinal benefits of plants. If you’re like me, a dandelion tincture or tea may be an excellent place to start. Join me in staying fascinated and excited to learn more every day about the wild life that grows with and around us!

Source: Grow Forage Cook Ferment