Rose, violet, dandelion, wallflower, zucchini and acacia flowers, nasturtium, elderberry, chrysanthemum:gardening is good, eating them is even better! Another way to enjoy your garden, beyond the pleasure of the eyes. Here is a list summary of some edible flowers and their uses.
The rose: it is eaten in many forms, exclusively the petals. They can be used fresh, or in the form of rose water, jelly, vinegar, syrup (a very fresh rose syrup… hmmm or even in delicious oriental cakes).
Dandelion: it is entirely edible, in salads, soups, omelets, or even in jam (flower only):this "weed", like nettle, can be cooked in many forms and has medicinal properties. Buttons are also consumable.
Violet: can be used in salads, syrup, water, but also in tea or jelly. It also decorates fruit salads, cakes, rice cake and semolina. The leaves and petals are edible, they can be made into excellent jams.
Zucchini flowers: the male flowers are eaten stuffed or in savory fritters and have a delicious taste of… squash. The same goes for acacia flowers, which can be eaten in sweet donuts (flour, water, sugar, rum, a pinch of salt and yeast:nothing could be simpler).
Wallflower: can be eaten in salads or candied, its taste and aroma are close to cloves, hence its name, but it has nothing to do with cloves.
Nasturtium: its flowers and leaves can be eaten in salads or garnished with meat and fish, while the buds and seeds (to be harvested green) can be prepared in vinegar to be eaten as a condiment. The flavor of the flowers is similar to that of watercress.
Chrysanthemum: the flowers are used in salads, soups, infusions. Simply scald the petals to remove the slight bitterness. The young leaves are also cooked in salads, raw or cooked:in Asia or the Orient, it is grown as a garden vegetable.
Elder: its flower is consumed in syrup, water, jam. Not to be confused with hawthorn, which can however be prepared as an herbal tea. Elderflower is also edible sprinkled on a salad, and makes a delicious flower wine. Be careful, some varieties are poisonous.
These flowers and the equipment necessary for their maintenance can be obtained from major gardening and floral decoration stores:Jardiland, Truffaut,:find a store near you!.
To find out more about making flower water and syrup, jams, flower-based confectionery, I have found a complete file on floral cuisine on the Marmiton website:https://www.marmiton.org/magazine/dossiers-marmiton_notes-florales_1.aspx
