As the days grow longer, the warmth of summer’s sunshine nurtures our flower gardens. Extraordinary bursts of color and fragrance bloom, bringing comfort and joy, a summertime magic that make the heart swoon.
What if you could transport one benefit of summer and display its enchanting scents and beautiful shades of colors and hues on to your dinner plate? Adorn your favorite summer dishes, not only your dining room table, with beautiful flowers. But, not just any flowers, edible flowers! Follow along to learn how to cook with edible flowers, and discover some of our favorite edible flower recipes that you’ll cherish during the summer months.
Guide To Edible Flowers
Edible Flower List
The following flowers are among the most popular blooms to include as a charming and elegant vegetable-like addition to your summery meal, each with a delightfully unique flavor.
- Apple Blossom: tart & citrus notes
- Rose: sweet undertones with spicy and fruity notes depending on the bloom
- Pansy: sweet and earthy tones
- Nasturtium: sweet and spicy petals while the leaves are have a peppery kick
- Dandelion: young blossoms will have a sweet honey like taste, while more mature blooms will offer a earthy flavor.
- Hibiscus: cranberry-like tart, cirtusy tones
- Lilac: bitter lemony flavor
- Viola: sweet and perfumed
- Lavender: sweet, spicy and fragrant
- Carnation: sweet and perfumed once trimmed away from stem
Although many flowers are edible, not all flowers are created equal in the culinary world. Even though they may look harmless, these deceiving blooms can wreak havoc if ingested. These flowers can cause anything from slight skin irritations to vomiting, diarrhea, and even death. The following are well-known poisonous flowers to watch out for when learning about cooking with edible flowers.
Poisonous Flowers List
- Baby’s Breath
- Bleeding Heart
- Bloodroot
- Callalily
- Daffodil
- Floxglove
- Hydrangea
- Iris
- Larkspur
- Lily Of The Valley
- Morning Glory
- Mountain Laurel
- Naked Lady
- Oleandar
- Peace Lily
- Peruvian Lily
- Tulip
- Wolf’s Bane
- Yarrow
Edible Flower Safety
As you read, some flowers can cause you harm. If you’re unsure, consult a reference book on edible flowers and plants before you proceed with your culinary adventure, to be absolutely certain.
When purchasing flowers specifically for food, acquire edible flowers that were grown for that purpose, organic edible flowers without harmful chemicals or pesticides. You may even choose to grow your own edible flowers as long as you choose to go the organic route; this way, you know that the flowers are safe to consume.
Do not collect flowers from the roadside or public parks, believing that they’re safe for consumption. Public flowers could also be treated with harmful chemicals and pesticides, as well as be affected by roadside car exhaust.
How To Prepare Edible Flowers For Consumption
To prepare edible flowers, you’ll want to remove any debris, such as loose soil that may have found its way onto the delicate petals. Using a strainer, rinse the flowers in fresh cold water to remove the debris. Set them out onto a paper towel-lined baking sheet and then top with a paper towel and completely dry them for three days. When flowers are thoroughly dry, store in an airtight container in a cool, dry place. To conserve paper towels, use them for your next round of edible flowers.
Please note, before consuming your flowers, remove the stamens and pistils. When garnishing your dishes with edible flowers, you’re only including the delicate petals.
Stunning Edible Flower Recipes
Raspberry Lavender Scones
Prepare a one-of-a-kind breakfast spread with these elegant raspberry lavender scones. Lavender adds a sweet and spicy floral twist to these tender, fluffy scones dotted with tart raspberries.
Strawberry-Endive Salad with Edible Flowers
Red Belgian endives and red leaf lettuce are tossed in a smooth blend of chardonnay vinegar, dijon mustard, and toasted walnut oil and topped with a delicious combination of strawberries, chives, walnuts and a heavenly assortment of edible flowers. When choosing edible flowers for your strawberry endive salad, pansies, Johnny-jump-ups, and violets are superb choices to complement your summery salad.
Dandelion Jelly
Making a jar of sweet honey-like dandelion jelly is as easy as pie! All you need to do is gather a bunch of these cheerful backyard blossoms to make a delicious honey-like spread. You’ll need powdered pectin, sugar, lemon juice, and water to bring this simple recipe to life.
Avocado Toast With Edible Flowers
Add a healthy dose of edible flowers to your morning regime by garnishing your avocado toast with mildly sweet and fragrant violas.
Winesicles With Edible Flowers
This summer cool down with a summery treat to remember, winesicles with edible flowers. These fancy pops are infused with Pinot Gris, simple syrup, and sprinkled with edible flower petals for beautiful shades of color that will certainly get everyone talking. Popular edible flower choices for DIY winesicles include the pansy, nasturtium, rose, carnation, and viola for their sweet undertones and vibrant colors.
Add your choice of edible flowers to a savory smoked salmon salad for a powerhouse of vitamins and nutrients. A refreshing medley of mixed greens are tossed in a punchy blend of horseradish yogurt dill dressing and then topped with sweet cherry tomatoes, sliced black olives, and your choice of floral enhancements. This delightful, elegant salad with vibrant hues is guaranteed to become a summertime favorite.
