Dandelion Fritters
Dandelion is an excellent liver cleanser and blood builder, and the herb (fresh or dried) is useful in unloading our bodies of unwanted sluggishness due to built-up toxins.
While dandelion flowers do not have as much nutritive/medicinal value as the leaves or roots, they are still excellent for you (and considered a heart tonic in herbal medicine).
We fry them in virgin coconut oil, and that is so good for you, too! This is one way to enjoy fried food without the downside.
Their mild and slightly bitter flavor is curiously addictive! If your yard is as full of them like ours, collecting is a great beginner job for your very young children as you teach about herbs and foraging.
This tasty side dish can be made GF, egg free and/or dairy free to be enjoyed by almost everyone!
OGWL is an Amazon Affiliate and any links you choose to purchase through pays a small amount to cover the costs of maintaining this site. Thank you!
Recipe source/Photo Credits
Goes Great with
Step by Step
-
Gather Dandelion tops during the morning when they have opened their bright and cheerful faces to the sunshine. Leave 1/4″ of the stem as a handle. Harvest only from a non-chemically treated area.Rinse in cool water and pat dry on a paper towel.
Heat your cast iron skillet and melt coconut oil for frying, just a little deeper than if you were making pancakes.
-
For the batter, combine egg, milk, and flour in a bowl and mix to remove lumps.At this point, if you prefer sweeter fritters, add a little maple syrup or honey, or cinnamon and a tsp. of vanilla extract.
For savory fritters, you might add fresh or dried parsley, sage, rosemary, thyme, chives, or even cilantro or parmesan cheese. In addition, we like to use a 1/8 tsp. of cayenne powder for a kick of flavor.
-
Holding one of the flowers by the greens at the base, twirl the flower into the batter until covered in batter.Place it into the skillet, petals down, and continue until the skillet is full. Brown the first side, then flip over to brown the other side.
The stems will collapse nicely until you have mini-dandelion pancakes. We like dandelion fritters crispy on the outside and soft on the inside.
Keep the fritters warm in the oven to serve the family all at once
Notes:
For a sweet treat, drizzle with maple syrup or raw honey over your dandelion fritters. We even add a touch of honey to the savory ones! Serve dandelion fritters with sausage and sautéed greens for a marvelous old-fashion breakfast.
