Some gardeners would rather do without it because they see it as an annoying weed. The other gardeners have learned about its healing properties and know that it can be eaten. The former should definitely look into the benefits of sorrel
Is sorrel edible and how to use it?
Sorrel is edible and can be used in various dishes. All parts of the plant, such as leaves, flowers, roots, fruits and seeds, are edible. They taste sour and are suitable for salads, soups, sauces, tea and much more. However, in large quantities it can be poisonous.
All parts of the plant are edible
You can eat all parts of the sorrel plant. Both the leaves, which are the focus in the kitchen, as well as the flowers, roots, fruits and seeds are edible. Each part of the plant has its own flavor facets.
What does the sorrel taste like?
The leaves are mainly used for consumption. As the name of the plant suggests, they taste sour. They also have a slightly fruity, spicy and refreshing component.
The leaves are considered good thirst quenchers on warm spring days. But be careful: you should not consume the sorrel in excess! In large quantities it is poisonous (also for animals) due to the oxalic acid it contains.
Uses in the kitchen
Sorrel can be used in a variety of ways in creative cooking, including for:
- Juice
- Soups
- Salads
- Stews
- Smoothies
- Sauces
- Sodas
- Tea
- fried vegetables
Sorrel can replace vinegar and lemon in dishes. It is a perfect ingredient for the well-known green sauce and the roots taste delicious when fried as a vegetable. The flowers are often used for tea or as a decoration on cold plates and in salads. The fruits, which ripen between May and June, are suitable for pickling.
How does wood sorrel work as a medicinal plant?
Use sorrel as a medicinal plant! It is best to collect it in spring. But it is better not to consume it if you have a calcium deficiency. The oxalic acid it contains robs the body of calcium. The medicinal plant works:
- blood purifying
- refreshing
- antipyretic
- diuretic
- against heartburn
- relieves skin rashes
- against indigestion
- against gallstones
- for liver diseases
Tip
Don't eat sorrel en masse and every day! In high doses it is toxic and causes gastrointestinal problems in the body, among other things.
