The less decorative broad plantain spoils the lawn and is therefore radically combated. What has been forgotten is that the indestructible Plantago major can make a valuable contribution to a he althy diet. We reveal when the best harvest time is and give tips for preparation.
Can you eat broadleaf plantain and how to use it?
Broad plantain is edible and rich in vitamin A and calcium. It is best to harvest in spring before flowering in order to use the young, tender leaves for salads, quark, cooked vegetables and as an asparagus substitute. Ripe seeds can serve as a flour substitute.
Best harvest time is in spring
Broad plantain is rich in valuable vitamins and minerals, such as vitamin A and calcium. The plant therefore contributes to a balanced and he althy diet – at no cost. The spoon-shaped leaves are primarily used. The younger the foliage, the more delicate the taste. Shortly before flowering begins, the content of ingredients is at its peak. As its profile tells us, the flowering period extends from May to September. Therefore, harvest broad plantain leaves in spring.
Broad plantain scores with a variety of possible uses
Broad plantain hides its diverse variants of tasty and he althy preparation behind its inconspicuous appearance. We have summarized the way in which the plant can be prepared in the following overview:
- The fresh leaves make a crisp salad after the tough leaf veins have been cut out
- Chopped broad plantain leaves give quark a special aroma
- When cooked, older leaves make a rich vegetable - similar to spinach
- The narrow flower stalks can be prepared and eaten like asparagus
You can grind the ripe seeds and use them as a flour substitute. Simply stripped from the stem, the seeds are a he althy addition to your breakfast muesli. The long taproots make an intense root vegetable.
Important ingredient for weed soup
The customs surrounding Maundy Thursday include eating a lean meal made from green ingredients on this day. Traditionally, weed soup is one of them. In addition to nettles, groundweed, sorrel and wild garlic, broadleaf plantain has always been on the list of ingredients.
Tip
Broadway plantain has been known as a medicinal plant since ancient times. Thanks to its valuable ingredients, the plant has anti-inflammatory, antiseptic and pain-relieving effects. Used internally as a tea, it relieves stomach and intestinal problems as well as colds or headaches. Crushed, washed leaves heal wounds, burns and insect bites.
