r/australianplants • u/GrabCompetitive4538 • 7d ago
Can I eat this as a vege supplement, found in backyard
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u/RichardMaloney 7d ago
It looks like dandelion which you can eat. Of course you need to do your own research before eating not listen to some dude on Reddit.
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u/activelyresting 7d ago
It looks like dandelion which you can eat. Of course you need to do your own research before eating not listen to some dude on Reddit.
Well I'm some chick on Reddit and I agree - you shouldn't listen to me either. Dandelion leaves are good in salads though, probably want to give it a thorough wash
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u/mashyj 6d ago
Yup, don't listen to any of us. However I have heard that dandelion root is tasty when peeled and roasted, or barbecqued.
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u/Brisbaneguy66 5d ago
Dandelion root is also reputed to have some anticancer properties (see the link).
The Use of Dandelion for Treating Various Types of Cancers | Herbal Medicines Journal (Herb Med J)
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u/Alarming-Instance-19 5d ago
Please, please someone link the image of Sid the Sloth with the dandelion from Ice Age.
I am old and don't know how.
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u/NoDensetsu 4d ago
Yes I’ve heard that edible “weeds” such as dandelion ate not only safe to eat but also highly nutritious.
But OP please do your own research don’t just rely on the words of some geek off reddit such as me.
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u/SorrowsofWerther 5d ago
Wash them, or you might get brain worms!
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-08-29/live-brain-worm-canberra-how-to-protect-yourself/102789436
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u/The_Silent_Tortoise 4d ago
But what if OP wants to be the next US Health & Human Services Secretary?
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u/Still_Travel_1094 6d ago
Yeah, totally a dandelion. Although I would think twice about eating anything that isn't from a managed garden. Wild Dandelions (especially ones growing out of concrete lol) may still have contaminants or diseases that wouldn't be safe to consume
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u/Eww_vegans 6d ago
Dog wee.... That's all I'm thinking.
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u/alk47 6d ago
Herbicide and exhaust pollution too
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u/triemdedwiat 6d ago
Have you ever read the list of ingredients and contaminants on a bag of garden fertiliser?
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u/strangeMeursault2 6d ago
What specific diseases do dandelions get that make them dangerous to consume?
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u/who_is_it92 7d ago
Yes, growing up we use to forage for greens with my auntie. It was I the French Alps. Young dandelion are really nice. Older like the one on photo be bitter and tough.
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u/nowimdrivingthe_bus 7d ago
"Weed Forager's Handbook" by Adam Grubb and Annie Raser-Rowland.
Great pocketbook that's about $15-20. It's a great introduction into urban foraging and has some cool recipes with a surprising amount of content. If you're interested in edible weeds in Australia it's a must have.
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u/Harrowkay 7d ago
Incredible book. I was game enough to try dandelions and I could see how they could be an acquired taste?
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u/savessh 7d ago
That’s nirnroot. If you get some vampire dust you can make an invisibility potion.
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u/TGin-the-goldy 7d ago
You can eat dandelion but it’s tricky to know that a cat or dog hasn’t peed on it
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u/Bobspadlock 7d ago
Probably tastier than store bought salad dressing.
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u/SansPoopHole 7d ago
Paul Newman rolling in his grave.
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u/napalmnacey 7d ago
The one he dug out and filled in about fifty times. That’s a lot of rolling.
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u/SoapyCheese42 7d ago
Yeah you can eat most weeds. Thats dandelion. Make tea if your man is having problems peeing.
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u/sierrapaule 7d ago
Probably not the best to eat one growing in an area like that. Dandelions are great for picking heavy metals up from the soil so ones growing in urban areas could have high levels
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u/RowdyB666 7d ago
Can you eat it... well yes, I assume you have a functioning mouth so you will be fairly capable of eating it.
You really need to be asking "Should I eat it"...
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u/coming2grips 7d ago
Or maybe - "Can I eat this twice?"
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u/brown_smear 4d ago
Why would you want to eat it twice? Wasn't it digested enough the first time?
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u/treeslip 7d ago
There are so many similar looking plants that you want to make sure you key out your plants using a field guide to get a positive ID. Some differences in plants are invisible to the naked eye and before anything goes in your mouth you want to be 100% certain on what's going on there. I have this book that is about all the weeds we see every day and how they are eaten over the world as well as many other facts. It won't help you get a definitive ID you will need other resources but you wouldn't believe what weeds are edible and taste pretty good.
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u/Plenty-Giraffe6022 7d ago
It's bitter lettuce, so non-toxic.
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u/brown_smear 4d ago
It's dandelion, so not bitter lettuce.
"Bitter lettuce" or more commonly, wild lettuce (lactuca virosa), has small spines along its midrib and along the leaf border. The dandelion shown has the distinctive leaf shape (teeth) that is not shared with the wild lettuce.
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u/thunderbirdpuppet2 7d ago
Check out “Eat Weeds” by Diego Bonetto. It’s on the cover! https://www.diegobonetto.com/eatweeds-buy-book?srsltid=AfmBOoptwPcYcjlzfMNdRJrtwJ9JmbqnwWL-a8Aypfp5oHiyeHP23qNW
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u/ImpressionFun960 5d ago
Ooh yes I agree. I did a 'weed walk' that he led maybe 10 years ago, and it was the first time I'd ever considered that wild greens you forage could have been sprayed by the council. Such a knowledgeable and quirky dude.
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u/madamsyntax 7d ago
Yes, but these ones are old and will be bitter. You want young dandelion leaves for something like radikia
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u/bulldogs1974 5d ago
Radikia?
There is a type of chickory that my Nonno and Dad grew called Radicchio. It's round and Dark green on the outside and a beautiful deep red colour inside. It's bitter too. But you can eat it raw in salad or cut it pieces and fry it.
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u/madamsyntax 5d ago
No, though that’s also delicious. Radikia is a dish made with dandelion leaves. Something like this https://www.grassrootshealth.com.au/dandelion-radikia-with-a-twist/
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u/bulldogs1974 5d ago
That recipe reminds me of what our Greek neighbour would make around Easter. Yum.
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u/madamsyntax 5d ago
Yes! It’s super tasty too. I love dandelions, but that’s my favourite way to eat them
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u/OrganicLocal9761 3d ago
Literally a picture perfect word for word description of my second ex wife and the name is pretty similar to
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u/notyouraverageskippy 7d ago
Looks like chicory as well
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u/CaptainDetritus 5d ago
That was my guess. Mum used something that looked a lot like this and called it chicory- not sure if accurately or not. She sauteed it in olive oil with onion (I think). Delicious anyway
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u/ftmnosurgeychubby4 7d ago
No as I grew up on an organic farm, before eating has it grown in a garden you prepared.
If not they are actually poison to you as they absorb the poisons from soils,hence there around alot.so if it wasn't in a garden you prepared, yourself than it isn't safe to eat.
If grown yourself most weeds are eatible.
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u/MarionberryBrave5107 6d ago
One similar to this leaf has that white milky sap which is poisonous. I'm absolutely not an expert
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u/BaconSyrop 6d ago edited 6d ago
If its clean then yeah, the roots can be used for a tea (has caffeine) the leaves are rich in iron so a salad or whatever and the flowers (which there are none of) can be used as a garnish.
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u/Sawathingonce 6d ago
Hang out in Eastwood for awhile and you'll see all kinds of foraging but, yeah, this is a foraging question not australianplants.
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u/Balthazzah 6d ago
My Chickens go mad for this stuff, gone in seconds.
Are you a chicken per chance?
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u/dusty-rose83 6d ago
Yes. These were always grown as a vegetable but escaped and started growing wild everywhere
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u/razorsandblades 6d ago
Also some random on reddit who believes this to be dandelion. Dandelion is definitely edible, but its very worth considering it's surroundings and its likelihood to have been exposed to contaminants and herbicides.
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u/BrainTraditional9123 6d ago
I have tried Dandelion before and I have used Dock as well. I found the Dock cooked lightly tasted like Spinach or Silver Beet with a bit of lemon added it was quite nice.
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u/JBeauraph21 6d ago
No offence. But why the fuck would you want to eat a weed from the ground - edible or not.
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u/bulldogs1974 5d ago
The same way people smoke a weed grown from the ground....
Or the same way people in South America chew the leaves and make a tea out of a plant that helps them with altitude sickness and gives them energy.
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u/East-Garden-4557 5d ago
A weed is just a plant growing somewhere you don't want it to grow. Your ignorance doesn't make a plant dangerous and doesn't make it taste bad.
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u/JBeauraph21 5d ago
No worries 🤡 keep eating off the ground.
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u/glasseswithnotint 4d ago
Hahahahaha wait til you find out where all fruits and vegetables come from.
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u/ivanmilkshake 6d ago
Rub on genitals as a test run . If any pain or discomfort persists do not eat .
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u/Reasonable_Grope 6d ago
There are more than 20 species of dandelion and about 50 percent of those are toxic to some degree.
From crystals in sap that cut you like tiny blades to actual enzymes that hate red blood cells.
Unless you can identify it, it's not smart to just eat any dandelion
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u/brown_smear 4d ago
Are you sure? Which species?
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u/Reasonable_Grope 4d ago
Dandelions (Taraxacum species) are generally considered safe and edible. However, they contain oxalates, naturally occurring compounds found in many plants. Oxalates can bind with calcium to form crystals, which may accumulate in the body and potentially lead to health issues, such as kidney stones.
The oxalate content in dandelion tea varies depending on factors like the plant’s growing conditions, harvesting time, and processing methods. While dandelion tea is generally safe for most individuals, excessive consumption can potentially contribute to oxalate accumulation in the body, especially for those with a predisposition to kidney stones.
It's important to note that while dandelions themselves are not toxic, they can be confused with similar-looking plants that may have toxic properties. For example, the Moth Vine (Araujia sericifera), also known as Cape Dandelion, is poisonous to humans and animals. If the leaves, stems, stalks, or green fruits are damaged, the plant exudes a caustic milky sap that can cause skin irritation and dermatitis.
Therefore, accurate identification is crucial when foraging for dandelions or similar plants. Consulting local foraging guides or experts can help ensure that the plants you collect are safe for consumption.
Source:LIQUID INSIDER
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u/GrouchyLength941 5d ago
I read this as ‘can I eat this as a vape supplement’ and spent the next five minutes confused on why people are using dandelion as a vape supplement
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u/Lemongarbitt 5d ago
Yes!!! I adore poisonous plants and this is most certainly not one (nor does it look like anything that could kill you). Its a dandelion and it might taste like buttholes but its edible and remarkably good for you. But it doesn’t taste good. Be warned, you can eat it. That doesn’t mean you’ll want to once youve tasted it.
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u/ExtraReflection4598 5d ago
I recommend a book called
Eat Weeds: A field guide to foraging: how to identify, harvest, eat and use wild Diego Bonetto
Got it in 2020 for something to do.
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u/Recent-Mirror-6623 5d ago
You could eat it, or you could just pull it out and sweep some rocket or lettuce seed into the same gap and eat that when it emerges.
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u/the-winter-sun 5d ago
It doesn’t look quite like a dandelion to me. There is a similar weed that I see sometimes, and this looks more like that. I don’t know the name of the other plant though, sorry
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u/brown_smear 4d ago
It is dandelion. Maybe you are thinking of cat's ear (flatweed)? It's often called a false-dandelion.
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u/the-winter-sun 4d ago
I’m familiar with flatweed. Maybe this plant is just a lot bigger than most dandelions I’ve seen
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u/Bloomer70 5d ago
My mum who is an Italian immigrant from a farming background so she knew what was safe to eat . She use to cut these out of our lawn , give them a thorough wash , quick boil it so it becomes like a spinach then fry with olive oil and garlic and salt . She said it was the best medicine and it was tasty
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u/PurelyPanic14 5d ago
Unless you know exactly what it is and what is in the soil, and it’s completely away from any other possible contaminants (which you could never be sure of unless it’s in a completely contained green house) I certainly wouldn’t risk it. Any kind of animal urine, poisons designed to literally kill weeds etc could be on it.
If you insist on not buying stuff from the store, with pretty much only an initial cost, set up your own vege garden. If you do your own compost you’ll grow things like pumpkin and tomato’s without actively planting them. Good luck
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u/ImpressionFun960 5d ago
I'm Lebanese and my mum always tells me how her grandmother, as a young girl, kept the rest of her family alive during wartime famine by foraging for dandelion and making a soup with the tiniest bit of flour to thicken it.
She eventually came to live in Australia with my mum and my grandmother, and as a young woman in the 1970's, my mum would drop her off at the local park on her way to work and she would spend ages picking these to fill the big bags she brought!
We like to eat the young leaves raw in a salad with lemon juice and olive oil, or boiled and squeezed out then mixed with lots of crushed garlic, olive oil, and salt.
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u/Stock-Comfortable362 5d ago
If it's just a dandelion, yes. Dandelion salads were very popular during the Great Depression and a dirt cheap (pun intended) way to get leafy greens. Probably not super calorically dense, though, and you'll wanna dress em up to taste.
As others have said, though, do your research and make sure it's safe to consume.
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u/I_keep_books 5d ago
As others have said, though, do your research and make sure it's safe to consume.
Yes, exactly - there are plants that look similar to dandelion but actually aren't dandelion
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u/Comfortable-Meet-666 5d ago
If there are so good, why you can’t find them at Coles or Woolworth?
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u/East-Garden-4557 5d ago
Do you honestly think the only vegies worth eating are the ones sold by coles and woolworths?
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u/AlternativeAd2173 5d ago
Thats a weed
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u/supercoach 4d ago
Weeds are only weeds because we give them that tag. If you had lettuce growing in your lawn it would be a weed.
A good number of our "weeds" are actually edible.
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u/Wrong-Appearance3277 4d ago
I go by the saying, weeds are the names we give plants we haven't found a use for. Don't know what it's called, my neighbour eats that and several other weeds and is still kicking. He's a retired biologist and his family used to have an organic certified farm, if he gives us stuff we eat it.
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u/ProfessionalFew1759 5d ago
Yes, I see old Asian grannies harvesting these in parks at certain times of year too.
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u/Usernamecasey 5d ago
Absolutely very very nutritious you can eat it in a salad for the most nutrition don’t boil it
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u/Careful_Mixture3399 5d ago
I thought that was a weed i guess I was missing out on a lot of free veg.
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u/Such-Seesaw-2180 5d ago
Yeah you can if it’s a dandelion plant. Make sure no herbicides/pesticides used on the property recently though. It’s kind of like rocket, a little bitter but nice with olive oil and Parmesan. Wash thoroughly! I used to cook mine as if it was chard, just to be on the safe side.
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u/EconomistOk3698 4d ago
If you're crazy enough you can eat anything....just don't complain if you get sick dickhead!
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u/kazem4916 4d ago
I think this is wild lettuce. I heard people extract a resin from it that may help to sleep.
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u/GroundbreakingDot929 4d ago
You can eat the leaves. The root can roasted and dried and used as a coffee substitute as well.
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u/HeavyNewt1840 4d ago
I ate one once, and it tasted like dog pee. Curiously enough, I didn't actually mind the flavour.
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u/Tactical_34536 3d ago
My mum would clean it then dry it and sauté it in a pan with olive oil,garlic, little bit of chilli then add a tiny bit of crushed tomato from the tin and serve it in crunchy Italian bread.
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u/celecross 3d ago
Why does the top right corner look like a bird? Like where the bottom of the fence is metal, I think? Can see it’s eye and all.
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u/dnadna42 3d ago
Dandelions are fine to eat but check the local soil profile before consuming. Soil in Sydney's Inner West is full of lead. You definitely don't want to eat anything growing wild in there.
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u/Dogbelly-Soup 3d ago
we call it Puha in New Zealand. Whack some in a boil up with some pork bones and potatoes and you're good to go.
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u/Initial_Cycle_9704 3d ago
Are you starving or something? Better check the other-side of the fence and surrounding area. Weed killers, chemicals and industrial fallout are ever present in urban environments. Let’s just say if i was your neighbour and you saw that along the fence line - that i wouldn’t recommend it especially after i’ve worked on cars for several years; and performed some house renovations.
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u/Sufficient_Algae_815 2d ago
Get a food dehydrator, dry them and make a soup with them for your in-laws. Dispose of the dehydrator thoughtfully.
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u/xandakai 2d ago
Mate that’s a weed called prickly lettuce/milk thistle and it’s actual name is Lactuca serriola but the reason why it’s called milk thistle is because if you cut it and then squeeze the bit you cut a sticky residue comes out and also mate I suggest not eating that bc as I said before it’s called milk thistle or prickly lettuce it has thistles at the base of the weed
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u/Dramatic_Discipline2 2d ago
Put a pot or box over it for a week - blanching helps with the bitterness
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u/saddinosour 7d ago
I’m Greek Aussie, my yiayia will pick this if it’s in a “clean” area and then she will wash it and rub it down with salt, then boil it. It’s eaten with olive oil, some of its own boiling water, and lemon.