| Archive for Downsizer For an ethical approach to consumption |
| sarahloo |
Hogweed seeds...Has anyone used them? I've found (only) a few sources to say they are edible (inc Miles Irving's new book) but am not really sure what to do with them. Are they worth bothering with, do you think? |
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| cab |
They're 'interesting'. If they're fully ripe they're sort of spicy and soapy, if unripe they're more sort of soapy and spicy. The only real use I've found for them is to gather them ripe, allow them to dry out, and mill them up with other spices in a curry mix.
I'll hasten to add that I last did this some time around 1999, so it isn't a recent memory 
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| sarahloo |
Thanks for the info. So I don't need to be wary of using them then? There are loads around at the moment
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| Motyka |
Perhaps saving them for the wild birds would be the best thing! I understand finches etc adore them in winter | ||
| lettucewoman |
is it not easy to mix up hemlock and hogweed? Cos I'd be scared of getting it wrong! | ||
| sarahloo |
I will definitely be doing that - there are loads! I just want to sample them really... I'm just curious!
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| sarahloo |
I imagine it's a possibility if you're not used to seeing/IDing those particular plants... so yes - beware the tricksy umbellifers! Or whatever they're called these days
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| nettie |
Nice pussy, Sarahloo (sorry couldn't resist!!). Lovely pic
I get me umbellifers in a mucking fuddle too. Mind you, Cab's still alive and he's eaten all sorts of odd stuff. So i sort of trust him 
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| cab |
You do need to be cautious with apiaceae (or 'umbellifers' as I still also prefer!), but its not that hard. Hogweed is pretty easy, so long as you're not confusing the young shoots with those of giant hogweed. |
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| sarahloo |
Thanks Nettie, she's called Mischief and she lives up to her name
I now know quite a few of the common edible umbellifers - Hogweed, Angelica, Carrot (only when in flower!), Parsnip, Ground Elder... I'm not 100% confident to identify and eat Cow Parsley or Sweet Cicely - to me they are the most tricksy. I can recognise the poisonous Hemlock and Hemlock Water Dropwort, though. Learning to identify them (withought even thinking about tasting!) is actually quite absorbing... |
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| cab |
Its very easy to show someone how to identify, say, cow parsley or sweet cicely... Its very hard to describe it. | ||
| EatWeeds |
Here's a Spiced Hogweed Seed Biscuit recipe my friend came up with:
http://www.eatweeds.co.uk/spiced-hogweed-seed-biscuits/. The seed is truly scrummy, and one I harvest a lot of. I'd rather use 'wild spices' from local hedgerows, than fly in 'exotics' from abroad. Robin |
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| Jamanda |
What a great website! How had I managed to miss the links to that before? Thanks for that! | ||
| Jamanda |
Question - do you dry or roast the seeds before grinding them? |
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| EatWeeds |
Sorry for the delay in getting back....
All you need to do is harvest the seed and allow it to dry thoroughly, then grind in a pestle and mortar and then sieve it, and store. Hope that helps? Robin |
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| cab |
Eatweeds, thats interesting, I'm going to have to have another go with hogweed seeds now. Have you found any good uses for alexanders seeds? | ||
| EatWeeds |
I suggest playing around and using them rather like caraway seeds, although the flavour is a lot more intense. In bygone days they were used in place of black pepper. Robin |