This may sound strange, but it's a fact - to have a bite, just go out into the yard. There are edible weeds, which are also useful for the human body.
The word "weed" sounds like a verdict, but in fact sometimes it is called plants that do not deserve it. Few people know that in the yard, in the garden, the garden, the forest, it is easy to find herbaceous plants that you can eat, while benefiting the body. Let's find out what, if desired, you can make a delicious dish.
1. Watercress
Weed, which is sold in stores, but in fact it can be broken absolutely free of charge near the nearest pond. Cress is added to different salads in raw form, which adds spice to the dish. It contains vitamins, useful oils, minerals and alkaloid compounds.
2. Nettles
Another known weed, which many use for culinary purposes. As an example, you can bring green cabbage soup in which instead of sorrel put the leaves of nettle. They should be young and necessarily scalded with boiling water to eliminate the burning effect. In addition, nettle leaves are included in salads and sauces. It should be mentioned that since ancient times nettles have been used in folk medicine since it has a wide range of useful properties.
3. Quinoa
Few people know that the quinoa is used for the preparation of certain medicines and for the manufacture of dietary supplements. You can benefit from weed by eating it, for which you must first remove the oxalic acid, which is dangerous to the body. With this task, lemon juice or heat treatment will do well. Scientists have determined that the weed is even more useful than the more common sorrel for us, the recipes of which can be used for cooking quinoa.
4. Thistles
In the people this plant is called burdock, and many are familiar with its sharp thorns. In fact, the thistle is edible and tasty, and in case of what it will help to cope with hunger and get a charge of vitamins. The leaves need to be cut and peeled off, and then cut into pieces and boiled in salted water, after receiving an edible soup.
5. Dandelion
From a beautiful and fragrant flower you can not only weave wreaths, but also use it for food. One of the most popular delicacies from dandelions is jam. The leaves of this plant can be used in salad recipes. It is important to consider that when a plant ripens, it acquires a bitter taste, so it should be collected in the beginning of spring, when the leaves are young and tender. As for the benefits, there are a lot of beta-carotene in dandelions, and more than in carrots.
6. The piles
Weed, which horticulturists and field workers hate, as it adversely affects the growth of cultivated plants, such as wheat. In this case, many do not suspect that the weed is very useful for the human body. For eating, young plants that have not yet formed seeds are suitable. Leaves are suitable for salads, soups, sauces, and from the roots you can make useful flour.
7. The Sitnik
A plant that is used for landscaping ponds, and many call it simply reed. In this weed is eaten by stalks, roots and seeds. They can be in raw and cooked form. Sitnik is nutritious, because it contains a lot of carbohydrates. Flour, obtained from dry roots, will be sweet, and it will not need to add granulated sugar.
8. Shepherd's Bag
Children of the 90s know this weed like no one, because they ate it without fear, noting a pleasant enough taste, which is similar to vegetable greens. Shepherd's bag is able to diversify the taste of any dish, adding to it piquancy. Note that the young plant is characterized by a sharp taste with sourness. In the food you can use seeds of weed, adding them to sauces, instead of mustard. It is impossible not to note the useful properties of the shepherd's bags, which are used in medicine.
9. Portulac
You can distinguish this plant by thick red stems and juicy leaves of round shape. On the site of this weed is very difficult to get rid of, but in which case you can get a lot of edible greens. Stems and leaves can be eaten fresh, adding to salads or other dishes. Portulac can be an excellent substitute for spinach. As for the benefits, this plant has antioxidants and omega-3.
10. The Sakhalin mountaineer
Weed, which externally can be compared with bamboo, because of high stems. It is widely distributed in the north-eastern part of Europe and the Midwest. Use recommended shoots of green and red, up to 8 cm long. They should be removed from the leaves and skin, and then you can cook.
11. Clover
It is not difficult to learn a plant, because it has leaves with three, less often four petals, which are considered a symbol of happiness, and original pink flowers. However, few know about nutritious and useful clover seeds, which contain up to 25% protein and 12% of healthy fats. They can be eaten to quickly satisfy hunger. You can also use dried flowers to brew delicious and healthy tea. In the food can be used and raw leaves, which should be washed and salt, but the young buds are suitable for leaven like cabbage.
12. Kudzu
A plant that can feed a huge number of people, because it grows in many areas. Very popular kudzu in the south, where it is prepared from a huge number of dishes, even sweet jams and jellies. One of the cooking options - boil the roots, mix with soy sauce and add to the salad. Kudzu is an excellent assistant for stomach problems.
13. Rogoz
One of the options for reinforcement in nature - a decorative marsh plant, which many confuse with reeds. The food uses rhizomes, which are dried and ground to make a powder from which you can bake bread. You can eat and young cobs, which taste like the asparagus.
14. Bamboo
Many do not know that in fact, bamboo is not a tree, but a kind of grass that spreads very quickly, like a weed. The taste of the stems is very similar to corn, and still it contains a lot of fiber, important for the body. The easiest way to make bamboo is as follows: leaves and a hard surface are removed, and then shoots are cut into pieces and cooked for 20 minutes to remove bitterness. At the end of the bamboo seasoned with soy sauce and added, for example, in a salad.