This time of year, one of my favorite activities is making and eating dandelion flower fritters.  The simple dandelion is one of our family’s favorite herbs.  Did I just say herb in reference to dandelion (Taraxacum officinale)?  Yep!  This plant is tenacious, despite many folk’s best efforts to eradicate it from their lawns, and thankfully so since it has so much to offer.  But, I was going to tell you about fritters.

• First of all I love gathering the dandelion flowers – just the tops for fritters.  They are easy to pick and so bright and cheery on a sunny day.  Usually, I want to pick more than I need, just because the gathering is so fun.  Do pick them in the sunshine when they are open, and when you have time to make the fritters right after gathering.
• Bring your basket of flowers inside, find a bowl, and mix together one egg and one cup of milk.  Stir in a cup of flour and your fritter batter is ready to go.  (If you like your fritters sweet you can add a little maple syrup or honey.)
• Now, prepare a skillet on the stove with gently warmed olive oil – keep it over medium heat. 
• Take one of the flowers and hold it by the greens at the base of the flower petals. Dip the petals into the batter and twirl until the flower is covered. 
• Drop it into the skillet, flower side down.  Continue dipping and dropping flowers, checking the first ones every once in a while to see if they are brown.  When they’ve lightly browned, flip them over and brown them on the other side.
• When they’re brown on both sides remove them from the skillet and drain the excess oil on paper towel. 
• For a sweet treat, drizzle them with maple syrup, honey, jam, or powdered sugar.  For savory fritters try dipping in mustard or adding some savory herbs to the batter.

A second method for fritter making is to pull the dandelion flower petals from the green base and add the petals to the batter.  Then you can cook them up just like pancakes.

Not only are the fritters delicious, the dandelion flowers are good for your heart.  Dandelion flower tea can help relieve pain from headaches, menstrual cramps, backaches, stomachaches and depression.  The rest of the plant (greens and roots) has nourishing, healing properties as well.  So, once you’ve fallen in love with the flowers, consider seeking out further information and enjoy blowing her white seeds and making your wishes, knowing that you’re spreading seeds of health throughout your neighborhood.