Milkweed
The main thing you need to know about eating Milkweed is that it must be harvested early. As Milkweed matures, it becomes slightly toxic and develops a milky sap that is somewhat caustic. The mature plant has medicinal use, but it must be harvested with care – Milkweed sap in the eyes could even cause blindness. Harvest Milkweed shoots when around 6 inches, picking only young, tender leaves and unopened flower buds. Most sources say that Milkweed should be boiled in 2-3 changes of water before being cooked, to remove the bitterness. I don’t mind the bitterness that much, especially in small amounts – just parboiling is fine for me. I cook small servings of the shoots like asparagus, using the steam/saute method with butter or pork fat. The leaves and flower buds work well in soup or mixed with other potherbs. The seed pods give us a second harvest – gather them while still tender, and use them as you might okra or purslane.
Tender Milkweed Pods with Tomato:
Sweat down some onion in fat in a medium hot pan. Add the pods and either fresh crushed or canned tomatoes in the same pan, with the onion, once the onion is translucent. You could also add celery, garlic, cut corn and/or green peppers. I usually just season with salt, black pepper, cayenne pepper and a dash of Worcestershire Sauce, but I will toss in anything I have on hand. Sometimes I even add a little chicken broth and/or white wine, hot sauce, etc. Regardless, just make sure you have enough liquid for the vegetables to simmer until tender, making a thick sauce. Serve over buttered rice.
In all honesty, I make this dish far more often with okra than Milkweed because I grow a lot of okra in the garden, and because my grandmother made it with okra. But, Milkweed is a delicious substitute, as is Purslane. You could also pickle the Milkweed pods. While okra is my standard for such dishes, I believe there is much nutritional value in eating the widest possible variety of foods, so I substitute wild plants in familiar recipes where I can.
This article is an excerpt from
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Disclaimer
The information on this site is not intended to diagnose or treat any disease or condition. Nothing on this site has been evaluated or approved by the FDA. I am not a doctor. The US government does not recognize the practice of herbal medicine and their is no governing body regulating herbalists. Therefore, I'm just a guy who studies herbs. I am not offering any advice. I won't even claim that anything I write is accurate or true! I can tell you what herbs have "traditionally been used for." I can tell you my own experience and if I believe an herb helped me. I cannot, nor would I tell you to do the same. If you use any herb I, or anyone else, mentions you are treating yourself. You take full responsibility for your health. Humans are individuals and no two are identical. What works for me may not work for you. You may have an allergy, sensitivity or underlying condition that no one else shares and you don't even know about. Be careful with your health. By continuing to read my blog you agree to be responsible for yourself, do your own research, make your own choices and not to blame me for anything, ever.
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