Nasturtiums can be preserved in different ways, not just drying, pickling and freezing. You can also use the flowers and leaves of this versatile plant to make a very tasty and decorative herbal vinegar or flower oil.
How to preserve nasturtiums?
Preserving nasturtiums: Dry flowers, leaves and seeds for tea and spices, pickle buds and unripe seeds in vinegar as “false capers”, or process flowers in mild fruit vinegar or flavorless oil to make flower vinegar or oil.
Drying nasturtiums
You can dry the leaves and flowers of the nasturtium to use for seasoning or to make tea. Drink two to three cups of this tea daily to prevent colds. You can also use it to support the treatment of bladder infections or upper respiratory tract infections.
The dried seeds are not suitable for tea, but they are suitable for seasoning dishes. You can easily crush the seeds in a mortar or grind them in a spice mill. However, make sure that the seeds are dried really well so that they don't start to mold. They are then easier to grind.
Pickling nasturtiums
The unopened buds or the unripe seeds of the nasturtium are suitable for pickling in vinegar. Boil both in a mixture of vinegar, water and s alt and fill the hot mixture into twist-off jars. Stored in a cool, dark place, these “false capers” will last for a few months.
You can pickle the nasturtium flowers in a mild fruit vinegar. Pour both into a bowl with a wide neck. The vinegar must completely cover the flowers, otherwise they could start to mold. Let the vinegar mature in a dark place for about four weeks, shaking the bottle once a day. After four weeks, strain the vinegar.
You can make flower oil using high-quality vegetable oil. It is best to use a tasteless cold-pressed oil, such as sunflower or rapeseed oil. In contrast to vinegar, the oil must steep in a warm and bright place.
The most important processing tips:
- Soak flowers in vinegar or oil
- Pickling buds in vinegar
- Dry seeds or pickle them in vinegar
- Dry or freeze leaves
- frozen flowers as decorative ice cubes
Tips & Tricks
Filled in decorative glasses and bottles, “false capers”, flower oil, herbal vinegar and the like are ideal as a gift or souvenir for an invitation.