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Boost Your Dishes’ Deliciousness with Edible Flowers (in Simple Ways!)

Boost Your Dishes’ Deliciousness with Edible Flowers (in Simple Ways!)

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Edible flowers can take your dishes to the next level, whether incorporated into recipes or used for garnish. They not only improve flavor but also the way your food looks. But how do you add them to your foods perfectly?

Read on to find out!

Edible Flowers Are Countless, But Here Are My Favorites

The following are some popular edible flowers I like to incorporate into my dishes:

Nasturtiums: For Salad, Baguette, and a Substitute for Caper

Young Woman Placing Nasturtiums On Her Salad

The exquisite nasturtium flowers have a peppery flavor much like that of radish bulbs. They pair well with a variety of salad dishes.

For the best taste, avoid adding a large amount—just use it as a garnish. You can also mix the flowers’ petals with butter when preparing your next baguette.

You can additionally collect the flower’s green seeds and pickle them for an alternative to spicy capers.

Violas: For Summer Drinks and Desserts

Young Woman Using Violas On Her Dessert

Violas have been used in desserts for ages and they’re still used extensively today in zillions of recipes.

Here’s how to get the best out of them:

  • Add a bit of these flowers to a refreshing summer drink to make it more aromatic.
  • Another option is to use them to garnish custard, ice cream, and cake.
  • You can also use the plant’s heart-shaped petals to make irresistible candied violets.

Marigolds: For Pickled Veggies

Young Woman Placing Marigolds In Her Pickled Vegetables

Both African and French marigolds make mouthwatering additions to a variety of dishes. Still, I recommend incorporating them into dishes that feature pickled vegetables.

The Mexican species of marigolds is worth trying as well. They have an anise-like scent, which makes them a perfect alternative to tarragon.

Important: Make sure to remove the stems completely before using the plant’s blossoms.

Lavender: For Various Sweet and Savory Dishes

Young Woman Using Lavender On Her Lamb Chops

Lavender features a slightly bitter yet pleasant flavor, making it a versatile addition to complement a variety of sweet and savory dishes.

You can use fresh lavender to flavor lamb, salads, and some desserts (crème brûlée comes to mind).

When dried, the quickest way to use lavender is to mix it into a syrup mixture and add it to refreshing summer drinks such as iced tea and lemonade.

Besides this, you can incorporate it into multiple recipes for sauces, marinades, sorbet, and cookies.

Calendula: For Salad, Desserts, Juices and Teas

Calendula flowers come with a unique peppery taste and golden color that can make a world of difference in the taste and look of various dishes.

You can use the plant’s petals to season egg dishes and garnish some salads. Calendula petals make perfect additions to juices, teas, and even vinegar.

Important: Before using Calendula, I recommend you remove the center of the flower as it can ruin your dishes with its bitter taste.

Chive Blossoms: For Potato Dishes, Sandwiches and Vinegar

Using Chives On A Potato Dish

A handful of chopped chive blossoms can spice up a boring potato dish and make it very delectable.

Sprinkling these blossoms on top of a sandwich is another great culinary use for them.

In addition, making chive blossom vinegar is a delectable use of this flavorful and aromatic plant.

The produced vinegar can be used as a salad dressing and works perfectly as a substitute for white wine vinegar.

ِArugula Flowers: For Sandwiches and as a Snack

Young Woman Placing Arugula On Her Sandwich

Arugula flowers taste like the ِarugula plant itself but slightly milder. Some people love to snack on them with no additions—give it a try.

However, if you want to incorporate them into a dish, sprinkling some flowers on the top of a sandwich is a great idea.

Other Popular Edible Flowers to Cook With

Besides the flowers mentioned above, here’s a quick look at a few other popular edible options to consider for your next meal:

  • Hibiscus: You can consume it as a tea or add it to hot and barbecue sauces. It’ll provide a bit of a sharp, tart taste with a little sweetness and a nice floral flavor.
  • Carnations: You can add it to salads or dry it and use it as a garnish.
  • Lilac Flowers: You can use them to flavor ice cream and syrup or decorate cakes.

Hope you’ve enjoyed this post! If you made it to the end, let us know in the comments which of the listed edible flowers you’re most excited to use.

If you already use any of these edible flowers please let us know in the comments how you add them to your foods.

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