Thistles are better than their reputation, because many of these prickly plants have a very delicate aroma and are unfortunately forgotten delicacies. In this article we will explain which thistles you can eat and how they are prepared.
Can you eat thistles and what do they taste like?
Yes, most varieties of thistle are edible and taste delicious. The artichoke is the most well-known edible thistle, while thistles can be used as a vegetable or salad. They have a delicate aroma, similar to chard, white or cauliflower.
Are thistles edible?
Almost all thistle varieties aresuitable for consumption. The most well-known thistle, which is often used in cooking, is probably the artichoke. But all parts of the native thistle and curly thistle are also edible:
- Valuable flour was obtained from the roots of these plants in times of war.
- The leaves and flowers make an aromatic salad.
- The young stems and roots can be prepared as vegetables.
What do thistles taste like?
In general, thistles tasteextremely delicate:
- The aroma of the common thistle is similar to that of young chard.
- The Krause Thistle tastes somewhere between white and cauliflower.
- Artichokes impress with their bitter-sweet, slightly nutty note.
How are thistles and curly thistles prepared?
Thistle leaves from Kratz or Krauser Thistle, from which you have previously cut off the spines with scissors, can be prepared raw as a salad or cooked like spinach.
You can also steam the flower heads. The young, non-woody stems are carefully peeled and cooked like asparagus. The roots of these thistles, treated like salsify, make a very fine winter vegetable.
How do I cook artichokes?
For artichokesonly the flowers are used. First cut off the stem, the outer leaves and the leaf tips. Thenat medium temperature in s alted water to which you add some lemon,cook.
Alternatively, you can fry young artichokes. These are halved or quartered, fried in olive oil and seasoned with herbs as desired.
Are thistles he althy?
Thistles are one of thevery he althy plants,that have been used as medicinal plants for hundreds of years. Due to their high protein contentsaturateThistle dishes alsolong.
In medicine, thistles are used for liver, gallbladder and kidney diseases. The bitter substances it contains stimulate liver metabolism and promote kidney activity. This has been scientifically proven, so that thistle extracts are now added to many conventional medical preparations.
Are there inedible thistles because they are poisonous?
Most native thistlesare not poisonous and can therefore also be cultivated in gardens where small children play. However, only the thick-fleshed flower base of the protected silver thistle is edible, as the silver thistle root is slightly poisonous.
Tip
Collecting thistles – this is how it works
Collect thistles only in clean places and away from busy roads or areas where pesticides have been used. You should also avoid areas that are frequently visited by animals. Please do not harvest the entire site, because only then can you hope for many young thistles again next year.
