Dandelion Flower Fritters
Originally published on DeliciousObsessions.com
Gluten and dairy-free Dandelion Flower Fritters, Taraxacum offincinale
Even though Americans now-adays are bound and determined dandelions are weeds, it wasn’t always that way. Mayflower passengers brought dandelion with them deliberately. Let alone all the uses of dandelions employed by Native Americans and other peoples dating all the way back to A.D. 1000. Tenth century Arabian physicians first described dandelions abilities for liver problems and diuretic properties.
Flower benefits:
While some herbalist believe and argue that dandelion is one of the most “beneficial and healthful” (Mars) of herbs, it is almost exclusively the leaves and roots they are talking about. Most information out there about dandelion refers to leaves and roots. But today we are going to be talking about the flowers!
The flowers contain carotenoids, most notably taraxanthin – which is a mixture of lutein, flanoxanthin, violaxanthin and chrysanthemaxanthin. (Mars) Analyses gave also detected beta-carotene, cryptoxanthin and cryptoxanthin epoxide. (Ganora) Taraxanthin helps strengthen the mucous membranes, boosts the immune system and is antioxidant. (Mars) Lutein is most well-known as “the eye vitamin”. Lisa Ganora, herbalist, points out that studies suggest mixed carotenoids can act as anti-cancer preventatives. Though other studies don’t support dandelion flower as having anti-cancer properties, while the leaves and roots do, with dandelion flowers being full of carotenoids and flavonoids, I see no reason not to eat as many as possible!
The flowers also contain lecithin. Lecithin is known for nourishing the brain and calming the nervous system and helps the body digest and utilize fats and oils.
Susan Weed in “Healing Wise” and Brigitte Mars in “Dandelion Medicine” both list similar healing properties of the dandelion flower. Taken internally, such as in the form of a tea, tincture, etc, they list symptom relief of headaches, menstrual cramps, backaches, stomachaches, depression, pain relief in general by lessening nerve excitability and mildly tranquilizing, and beneficial to the heart.
Applied externally, sometimes infused into water and some infused into oil, it has been used as a facial splash for skin improvement, stiff neck, antiarthritic, sinus headaches and encourages wound healng for skin sores.
New research studies on dandelion flowers are showing antimicrobial properties against fungal an bacterial pathogens and significant antioxidant activity with free-radical scavenging.
Dandelion Tenacity
It is the growth and abundance of dandelion that I find most interesting. The tenacity of the plant is remarkable, sprouting out of cracks of sidewalks, open vacant lots and undoubted ly returning despite our best efforts at dousing it with herbicides. Many believe that utilizing and consuming a plant that adapts and thrives in such modern adversity will help you adapt and thrive in modern adversity. Many also find the bright yellow flower and any food and medicine made with the flower to bring “joy”. My children bring me countless bouquets of dandelion flowers – and see, even without consuming it, dandelion brings me heartfelt joy!
“We healers and earth people are all dandelion shattering concrete with delicate, yet infinitely strong roots.” Kiva Rose, herbalist
Correctly Identifying Dandelion
Everyone thinks they know dandelion, right? But there are actually several look alikes. Which in general won’t hurt you, but won’t do you any good as they don’t contain the same medicinal properties. Dandelion has bright yellow flowers and the deeply jagged leaf that spurred the name “dent de lion”, or lions tooth in French, that eventually became our name dandelion.
To identify: The leaves grow directly from the root crown in a rosette formation – there is NO central stalk and NO branches. Leafless stalks that have individual flowers on top – yes, but if you see any branching, it is not dandelion. Also, dandelion leaves are NOT hairy, spiny or fuzzy. Keep these two points in mind and you’re ready to go!
The last important note is to make sure you don’t harvest dandelions that have been treated with herbicides.
“For people who wish to harvest, process and use their own herbal medicine, I can think of no better introduction that dandelion.” Gregory L. Tilford, herbalist
So many dandelions….and it is so easy to cook up some yummy dandelion fritters!
1. Pick some dandelion flowers. Just pluck off the heads. Don’t forget to pick from an area that you are sure hasn’t been sprayed for herbicides.
2. Add 1 cup almond milk (I used 1/2 cup organic canned coconut milk diluted with 1/2 cup water), 1 cup Bob’s gluten-free flour and 1 egg (preferably pastured). Add several shakes of unrefined sea salt and mix well.
3. Heat the pan and melt coconut oil (you can use butter if you tolerate butter) in the pan for frying. (We try to use as much coconut oil as possible) Dip each flower head in the batter and drop into pan. We LOVED these salted liberally – with unrefined sea salt of course. Flip when brown.
We managed to eat the entire batch in one sitting!
Finished Dandelion Fritters, ready to eat! (And I did eat them all, lol - they were so good!)
I hope you enjoy!
Lori, CCH, CN (Certified Clinical Herbalist, Certified Nutritionist