12+ Dandelion Root Recipes

2023-05-19 06:05:38

Dandelion roots are an usually missed a part of the dandelion, but it surely’s the place a lot of the well being advantages (and diet) reside. Be taught new methods to cook dinner dandelion roots, each savory and candy, and also you’ll flip weeding into harvesting.

Whereas dandelions are free to take over our lawns and fields as a meals supply for the bees, I draw the road at my backyard beds. Whereas they’re edible root to blossom, they’re additionally extremely prolific, they usually’ll rapidly take over a strawberry mattress within the blink of an eye fixed.

Dandelions will come again over and over if you happen to don’t get the basis, and people huge faucet roots are tough to drag with out stout muscle groups. Should you’re going to undergo all that effort to get them out, you may as effectively flip your weeding into harvesting.

That’s proper; dandelion roots are edible!

(This publish is a part of a collection on consuming each a part of the dandelion. Right here’s the place you’ll find a full record of dandelion recipes, in addition to particular dandelion flower recipes. Dandelion greens recipes are coming quickly!)

Harvesting Dandelion Roots

Dandelions type faucet roots, very similar to carrots. In actually comfortable sandy soil, they’ll produce roots as much as 2 toes lengthy.

For essentially the most half, they’ll develop straight and lengthy, in these splendid circumstances. These “pampered” dandelion roots are simple to work with and straightforward to peel.

For essentially the most half, dandelions don’t develop in “pampered” locations and sprout via sidewalk cracks and deserted tons. Our soil isn’t the very best in lots of locations, and we’re blessed with basic new england soil.

(There’s a purpose they constructed all these rock partitions all these years in the past…)

Typically, dandelion roots might be a bit twisted and break up, and it may be tough to get them clear. Wash them completely outdoor with the hose, however then deliver them inside for an excellent soak and scrub within the kitchen sink.

Washing Dandelion Roots

As soon as washed, you should use your dandelion root recent instead of carrots in many various recipes. It’s greatest if you happen to peel the roots, and soaking them in water may help take away any residual bitterness.

Many of the “bitter” dandelion taste is within the peel, so peeling is usually sufficient to make them fairly delicate and candy.

Peeling Dandelion Root

Bear in mind that dandelion roots oxidize to a brown colour if peeled and left within the air, so that you’ll wish to submerge them in water to stop browning.

I used peeled and grated dandelion root to make a dandelion root cake (like a carrot cake), which was completely scrumptious. I soaked the grated dandelion root in water for a number of hours, principally as a result of I didn’t have time to make the cake straight away, and I feel it helped give the cake a light taste.

Grated Dandelion Root for cake

Many dandelion root recipes name for chopping and roasting the roots.

In that case, you’ll wish to wash them completely, after which chop them into 1/2-inch items. Roast the roots at about 350 for roughly 40 minutes, till they’re browned, crisp, and dry.

Roasting Dandelion Roots. Freshly chopped dandelion roots (left) and roots after roasting (proper).

This course of enhances their taste (for issues like dandelion espresso), but it surely additionally dries and helps protect them on the similar time.

Should you get the roots completely dried and toasted, you may retailer them, like several dehydrated meals, in a jar proper on the pantry shelf.

(If you are going to buy already cleaned and dried dandelion root, you may toast it by placing it in a 350-degree oven for about quarter-hour till it browns.)

Roasted Dandelion Root

Dandelion Root Recipes

Whether or not roasted or recent, these dandelion root recipes will assist you to get essentially the most out of your dandelion harvest.

Easy Cooked Dandelion Roots

One of many easiest dandelion root recipes is boiled dandelion roots, that are roughly made like boiled carrots.

On this case, because you’re going to be cooking them entire, peeling isn’t mandatory. When dandelion roots are boiled, the pores and skin slips proper off the central core. That’s particularly handy for dandelion roots that aren’t straight or have a number of nobbly bits which might be laborious to peel with a knife.

When you’ve boiled and peeled them, toss them with a little bit of butter and salt and luxuriate in. (You too can mash them like potatoes or parsnips for a dandelion root puree that’s fairly tasty too.)

Peeling cooked dandelion roots

Dandelion Root Fries

Should you’re craving a salty deal with, attempt your hand at making Roasted Dandelion Root Fries.

For this recipe from Natural Revolution simply has you narrow the roots lengthwise, toss them in olive oil after which roast them at 350 for about quarter-hour.

Remember that with the peels on they’ll be a bit bitter, however roasting them helps reduce the bitterness, they usually’re nonetheless actually tasty fries.

Add in an excellent dipping sauce, they usually’re good!

Dandelion Root Carrot Cake

Since dandelion roots are very very similar to carrots, albeit with a barely completely different taste, I made a decision to make a “dandelion root cake” by substituting grated dandelion roots instead of carrots in my favorite carrot cake recipe.

In the long run, it got here out extra like a moist spice cake as a result of the dandelion roots truly give it so much much less taste than carrots would. You actually can hardly discover they’re there, a minimum of when it comes to taste, but it surely provides the cake an incredible texture and comfortable crumb.

I peeled the dandelion roots, after which grated them and soaked them in water for a number of hours earlier than incorporating them into the batter. I wasn’t attempting to leach them, I simply didn’t have time to bake the cake straight away after I processed them, but it surely labored out rather well.

The cake was tremendous delicate, and I adorned it with a number of dandelion petals. (I regretted that although, because the dandelion petals had been type of stringy, and the least tasty a part of the cake. I’ll skip these sooner or later, because the dandelion root cake itself was scrumptious.)

Roasted Dandelion Root Espresso

In all probability essentially the most basic dandelion root recipe, most individuals flip their dandelion roots right into a easy espresso substitute.

My daughter likes to have “espresso” dates with me, and I make her up a cup of dandelion root coffee so she will sip a caffeine-free drink subsequent to me on the porch on sunny spring mornings.

(Within the autumn, we make acorn coffee for her, so there are many wild foraged espresso substitutes relying on the season.)

Dandelion Root Ice Tea

Similar to dandelion root espresso, you may brew it a bit milder after which serve it over ice for Dandelion root ice tea.

It tastes fairly a bit like southern candy tea if you happen to add sufficient sugar, however I’m keen on somewhat homemade maple syrup to sweeten it up.

Dandelion Root Kombucha

Upon getting tea (or espresso), you may flip it into Dandelion root kombucha with a little bit of sweetener and a kombucha mom.

It roughly makes a fizzy probiotic soda, however with out the caffeine that normally comes with kombucha.

Dandelion Root Milkshake

Since roasted dandelion roots have a “espresso” like taste, the subsequent rational factor to do is to combine them with chocolate, since espresso and chocolate flavors pair so effectively.

A Chocolate Dandelion Root Milkshake takes dandelion root espresso to the subsequent degree!

Roasted Dandelion Root Ice Cream

If you can also make espresso, and switch it right into a milkshake, you may skip the center man and simply make roasted dandelion root ice cream. I’ve a recipe posted for acorn ice cream which makes use of roasted and floor acorn espresso as a flavoring for ice cream, and you’ll substitute the acorn espresso with roasted and floor dandelion root.

Roasted Dandelion Root Muffins

Normally, roasted dandelion roots are became a espresso or tea-like beverage, however you may also use those self same root teas to taste baked items.

My good friend Colleen did that when she made these Roasted Dandelion Root Muffins (Paleo and Gluten Free).

Roasted Dandelion Root Muffins from Develop Forage Prepare dinner Ferment

Dandelion Root Donuts

If you should use the tea to taste muffins, in fact you may also use it to taste Dandelion root tea donuts!

Dandelion Natural Bitters

Fairly than infusing dandelion roots into water for espresso or tea, you may also infuse them into alcohol to make home made bitters. This recipe for Dandelion and Burdock Herbal Bitters makes use of each dandelion and burdock roots, that are basic components for business bitters.

Whereas fancy natural bitters are costly to purchase, they’re simple and low-cost to make, they usually actually do make a spectacular cocktail.

Dandelion Tincture

Very very similar to natural bitters, a herbal tincture is simply an alcohol extract that’s used for medicinal functions. That’s proper; dandelions have medical benefits!

Normally, dandelion tincture is made out of dandelion roots, and I do it that method most years. Sometimes I’ll make a batch of “entire plant” dandelion tincture utilizing the leaves and flowers as effectively.

Many of the medicinal properties are within the roots, so you may skip the opposite elements, or add them for a well-rounded extract.

Dandelion Root Infused Honey, Vinegar, and Oxymel

A dandelion tincture isn’t the one solution to infuse dandelion roots for medicinal use. Herbal-infused honey, Herbal-infused vinegar, and herbal oxymels additionally work effectively with dandelion root.

I hope to make a dandelion oxymel this yr, combining honey, apple cider vinegar, and dandelion roots in equal proportions. After steeping for about six weeks, the dandelion roots are filtered out, after which you should use the oxymel.

The vinegar and honey are preservatives, so that they hold a very long time on the shelf.

You’ll be able to skip the vinegar and make a candy Dandelion root-infused honey.