Wild Edible Recipes: Add The Sees From This Plant To Your Trail Mix!
by Nate Bazydlo
In the heart of a major city with automobiles, bicycles and people moving about, a sweet, middle-aged woman with a subtle attractiveness perceives this world differently than most. One block off the main street housing the hustle and the bustle, she leads a group of inquisitive folks to a raised circle of green patch in the center of a rotunda. In her calm, soothing voice she asks the small group, “What do you see growing beneath your shoes here?” The responses come naturally. “Grass, weeds, dying flowering weeds.” This sage of a women guides them to, “Close your eyes. Now open them. You are standing in a small field of food in the center of your big city. Plantain is growing everywhere here!”
Go Nuts for Plantain!
Plantain, or broadleaf plantain, or plantago major, not to be confused with the banana-like plantain, is a small green leaf plant that grows prolifically in the northern hemisphere temperate climate zones This plant is also a fun, delicious wild edible! Here are two recipes to gobble up your local plantain with.
Plantain Seed Trail Mix
This is a quick and easy seed mix to delight the taste buds and boost your energy. The plantain seeds can be collected by running your finger down the stalk to pull off the seeds.
Ingredients:
- 1 Cup of plantain seeds
- 1 Cup sunflower seeds
- 1 Cup Pumpkin seeds
- Coconut oil (just enough to coat the seeds)
- Pinch of Sea Salt to taste
Directions:
Pre-heat oven to 300 F. Place seeds in a bowl. Coat seeds with oil and add salt. Spread seeds onto a baking sheet and put in oven until lightly browned. Approximately 15 minutes. If you like your pumpkin seeds more crispy you can put them in for 5 minutes first. Remove from oven, toss and enjoy!
Plantain Leaf Seaweed: A New Way to See Weeds!
Ingredients:
- 3 Cups fresh picked plantain leaf, whole
Dressing
- 1.5 Tbs Sesame Oil
- ¾ tsp ume plum vinegar
- ½ tsp nama shoyu (sub tamari)
- 5 drops toasted sesame oil
- Sesame Seeds for garnish
Directions:
Rinse plantain leaves. Steam leaves until slightly transparent, approximately 5 minutes. Be sure to turn leaves while steaming to equally expose them to the heat. Remove leaves immediately when done and place in mixing bowl. To prepare dressing mix all ingredients except sesame seeds and pour over leaves. Sprinkle sesame seeds for garnish and yummy! Enjoy!
Nate Bazydlo is a student of our Wild Edibles program. His passion for plants was sparked by a Urban Herbalist group in Amsterdam, where he started gently foraging for food and medicine all around him. He has started herb school in San Diego. He has a large organic garden, teaches gardening and healthy living opens up his garden to people who want free access to vibrant, organic veggies. He also volunteers at a local organic farm and CSA.
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