\u00a9 2021 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. I’m sorry Winston, I’ve never seen them for sale. Pick the petals off of the yucca flowers and add those to the mix, along with the oregano and thyme. Yucca flowers bloom at night and emit a deeply sweet scent attracting the plants’ sole pollinator, the Yucca moth. Two friends report that eating raw flowers caused them to have an itchy throat, but neither my husband nor I experience that. The Yucca is the state flower of New Mexico and is pollenated by a plant-specific moth…the nocturnal Yucca moth… Sauteed Yucca Flowers with chipotle (or a chili of your choice.) Fortunately, they’re easy to spot against the pale white blooms. Squeeze the lemon juice into the mix and stir, then sprinkle with a few pine nuts, a little pepper, and some fancy salt. Separate the petals from the pistils and stamens. They’re all tasty, but the first time you try the flowers, prepare them simply, so you can get acquainted with their flavor. Tested. We use cookies to make wikiHow great. The pot should be at least 4 quarts (3.78 liters) in volume. Bring a quart of salted water to a boil. The yucca in my garden is Y. baccata. • Sauteed Yucca Flowers with Chipotle, from Eat the Weeds. Please help us continue to provide you with our trusted how-to guides and videos for free by whitelisting wikiHow on your ad blocker. wikiHow's Content Management Team carefully monitors the work from our editorial staff to ensure that each article is backed by trusted research and meets our high quality standards. I speak from experience when I say that the flowers of Y. filamentosa and Y. glauca are also edible and tasty. https://cappadonaranch.com/blogs/recipes/mesquite-fried-yucca-blossom It makes yucca flower is good for digestion. Coat the petals in a batter made from rice flour Popular ways of preparing various parts of the plant include boiling the fleshy flowers and the seasoning them simply. Last Updated: June 13, 2020 But they’re also at home in containers and gardens in many different climates, and they’re lovely to look at all year round, with their stiff foliage and persistent architecture. I’ve also seen them sliced and tossed … By signing up you are agreeing to receive emails according to our privacy policy. Filed Under: edible, high altitude, medicinal Tagged With: Colorado, Denver, flowers, foraging, recipes, Rocky Mountains, yucca. Some blog posts here include links to products on Amazon. Jul 29, 2018 - Explore ForagedFoodie Blog's board "Forage: Yucca (the plant)", followed by 1266 people on Pinterest. Yucca flower possess excellent amount of dietary fiber. Pull out the long central threads and discard them. See more ideas about Yucca, Wild edibles, Wild food. And it's easy to make, too. Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email. How to prepare Yucca (for almost any recipe): Cut and peel the Yucca root. Sautéed yucca blossoms make an excellent side dish. You can refrigerate leftover scrambled eggs with yucca flowers in an airtight container for 3 to 4 days. Separate the flower petals and deep fry them in a batter. Remove clusters of yucca flowers from the top of the yucca plant. Almost four years later, I haven’t found a single one. If you want to learn more, like how to make a yucca flower soup, keep reading the article! This is a beautiful flower when in full bloom. Add the salt, sumac powder, and whichever kind of pepper you prefer, and stir to combine, then remove from the heat. Depending on where you live, yuccas may be a wild plant in the landscape, a valued ornamental in the garden, or a traditional food. * 1/4 cup olive oil * 1 Chipotle pepper in adobo sauce The petals are blanched for 5 minutes, and then cooked a la mexicana (with tomato, onion, chile) or in tortitas … Good luck! Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window), Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window), Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window). Omelets, frittatas, huevos rancheros, eggs, yucca, tomatoes and chiles, etc. Bring to a boil over medium … Many of them are egg recipes such as huevos rancheros, omelets, and frittatas. Remember, bitter doesn’t mean bad. Add the yucca petals, and a little more olive oil, if needed. This article was co-authored by our trained team of editors and researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness. I feel perfectly confident eating them. I find it milder than that. My first year in New Mexico, I was very excited to harvest yucca fruit. Mar 26, 2011 - Get your own corner of the Web for less! Sauté another 1 to 2 minutes. Yucca blossoms seem to pair well with Mexican type veggies such as chilies and tomatillos. There are quite a few recipes for cooking Yucca flowers. El Salvador flor de izote con huevos makes use of their national flower. Quarter the “peeled” yucca pieces and place them in boiling water for 20 minutes (or until fork tender). Besides preventing constipation, yucca flower is also able to avoid bloating, cramping, and flatulence. Finely chopped yucca stamens and pistils with southwest seasoning prior to adding petals. Remove the individual yucca flowers from their stem, and remove the pod from the center of the flowers, soak in water for 10 minutes, then rinse thoroughly. The pot should be at least 7 quarts (6.6 liters) in size. I’m not sure where you live, but I grow them in PA, so maybe you can grow them in your garden. Here in the states it is called the Lord’s candle or the Spanish bayonet.The delicate petals after the stamen is removed and boiled are delicate treats with a flavor similar to the leaves of an artichoke closest to the heart. References If you really can’t stand to see another ad again, then please consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. Dress them up with a little cheese, if you like, maybe a smidge of fennel or bee balm, but don’t smother their delicate flavor with too many spices. Stir in salt. Carefully drop one petal at a time into the hot oil and fry them for 2-3 minutes, then remove the petals with a slotted spoon. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. To do this you will need a . Your email address will not be published. I’ve read that the pistils and stamens are bitter and/or toxic, and should be discarded, and I’ve also read that the entire flower and fruit are safe and flavorful. There are lots of recipes for yucca blossoms in eggs, soups, stews, and my favorite: yucca blossom quesadillas. To make Southwestern Fried Yucca Flowers, separate the pistils and stamens from the petals. I suppose you might find them at a market in NM or AZ or maybe Mexico, but your best bet is probably to forage for them yourself. There are 21 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. To prepare yucca flowers for cooking, simply strip the petals from the pistil and stamen. Arugula, raddichio, and dandelions are all bitter greens you’d pay good money for in the supermarket. There may or may not be a tiny bit of bitterness, depending on how sensitive you are to bitter flavors. cut the stems off of the flowers and pull away all of the green base to release the petals. Chop off both ends of the yucca root using a sharp knife. Coat the petals in a batter made from rice flour, mesquite flour, cornstarch, baking soda, salt, egg yolk, and sparkling water. Place the yuca into a pan and fill with enough water to cover. In the end, I listen to the sources I trust the most, and you must do the same. • Picadillo de Flor de Itabo, from Monte Azul. Little did I know how unusual that windfall was. If you’re lucky enough to find yucca blossoms, either in the garden or in the wild, it’s time to give them a taste. What You’ll Do to Make Stuffed Yucca Blossoms Roughly chop the yucca pistils and stamens and the onion, and sauté in olive oil until the onions are translucent. Chop the pistils and stamens finely, and sauté them in olive oil. Apr 6, 2016 - The flower petals of the various yucca species in North America are all edible. Required fields are marked *. And fried yucca flowers are especially good. Traditionally, yucca flowers are also the base for a simply flavored soup. But bear in mind that yucca blossoms are a traditional ingredient in many Central and South American cuisines, and there has been no report of yucca blossom-related, mass fatalities south of our border. You could also add them to a quiche, soup, or stew. Ants and other insects are quite fond of the flowers. Post was not sent - check your email addresses! Sauté until they just begin to soften, another 2 to 3 minutes. Ellen Zachos is a forager and horticulturist who is passionate about wild food and drink. Enter your email address and I'll send you notifications of new posts. The pistils and stamens may (or may not) turn green. Here are a few recipes we’ve found for cooked yucca petals: • Yucca Flower Omelet, from Cooking Sessions. 2. Yucca plants of Hesperoyucca whipplei only flower once in their lifetime and soon after blooming and fruiting the plant begins to die. But last week, when I collected my first flowers of the season, I was happy to see that many of them had already been pollinated. Vegetal, pleasant, soft. Avoid frying all of the yucca petals at once or they may bring down the temperature of the oil too much. If you want to fry yucca flowers, cut the stems off of the flowers and pull away all of the green base to release the petals. https://mexicanjewish.com/2013/11/02/scrambled-eggs-with-yucca-flower-prepared-mexican-style/, https://honest-food.net/eating-yucca-flowers/, https://books.google.com/books?id=0tDiMBUJdboC&pg=PA31&lpg=PA31&dq=yucca+flower+soup&source=bl&ots=zDKqM-clTg&sig=JCaqVEErbKQtqcBzW6v_uZ1sd0s&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwipwoTH7IDXAhXIj1QKHViIBs8Q6AEIhQEwEA#v=onepage&q=yucca%20flower%20soup&f=false, consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. Yucca flowers are edible and taste like bitter artichoke. We know ads can be annoying, but they’re what allow us to make all of wikiHow available for free. If you want to eat yucca flowers raw, mix them into salads to add a little color and sweetness. You’ll read lots of different things about the edibility of yucca blossoms online (and remember, everything you read on the internet is true). Yucca plants have spiky, sharp leaves, that grow out from a central point. What You’ll Need to Make Sautéed Learn more... You may have seen delicate yucca flowers in South American or Mexican recipes. The Yucca baccatta (and a genus that used to be known as Yucca arizonica) are the Banana Yucca, also called Blue Yucca, Datil (not to be confused with the chile pepper) and Spanish Bayonnet (though at least two other species are called by this name as well). "Similar to asparagus cream soup but a little more bitter. Avoid rinsing the petals for this recipe because batter won't stick well to wet petals. Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 4,861 times. If you want to learn more, like how to make a yucca flower soup, keep reading the article! Moderate water. (Warning: Some sources warn against eating the pistils and stamens of flowers. By using our site, you agree to our. Then I potted the pods on another plant and pounced. Loved it!". Chef Jason Hill shows how to make a yucca flower omelet recipe in this episode of "Chef Tips." Most people think of yuccas as denizens of the desert, and they are indeed drought tolerant and tough as nails. Fingers crossed for a bountiful fall harvest! Refrigerate the leftover soup in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3 to 4 days. The pot should be at least 4-quarts (3.78 liters) in volume. This article has been viewed 4,861 times. You can also boil the yucca flowers until they're soft and then stir them into scrambled eggs. Learn how to manage anxiety like a therapist. Spruce Needle and Spruce Tip Ice Cream: Recipe. wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. Traditionally, yucca petals are removed from their reproductive parts. Insert a deep-fry thermometer into the pot to monitor the temperature of the oil. You can find mesquite flour online or at some health food stores. During early to mid summer, the yucca plant sends up an asparagus like stalk, which them opens up into beautiful flowers. If you can't find it, just use another 1/4 cup (30 g) of all-purpose flour. Nutritional Value Yucca cactus buds have long provided a valuable source of carbohydrates and dietary fiber and helped sustain those living in the desert regions where it grows. They may or may not turn green. I nibbled on a blossom in the Rockaways recently, off a sandy path between beach plum and bayberries on the way to the sea. Add mushrooms and turn heat up to medium-high. Wash your yucca blossoms well when you get them home. The wikiHow Video Team also followed the article's instructions and verified that they work. One of the most cold hardy and widely planted yuccas. This is Yucca filamentosa, growing at the Pier 44 garden, Red Hook. This image may not be used by other entities without the express written consent of wikiHow, Inc.
\n<\/p>

\n<\/p><\/div>"}. Serve the yucca flowers while they’re still hot and crunchy. Place the yucca flowers in the boiling water, allow to boil 4-5 minutes, and drain. Before I knew you could eat the flowers or fruit. This is no ordinary plant. Above - yucca flowers. Your email address will not be published. It tasted fine. If you’re worried, just eat the petals). Yucca is a natural substance long used in herbal medicine. Using a sharp knife, carefully slice down the full length of the yucca root. HOME > Blog > Yucca Blossoms: a Savory Edible Flower. How to Make Yucca Root: 1. Pull out the long central threads and discard them. Thanks! The mixture should thicken up into a paste. June 21, 2011 By Erica M. Davis 3 … When they start to turn green, add the onions and continue to cook over low heat until the onions are soft and translucent. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. The batter will be a little lumpy, but you should avoid mixing the batter too much or it will become tough. The flower petals are commonly eaten in Central America, but its reproductive organs (the anthers and ovaries) are first removed because of their bitterness. Fortunately, they’re easy to spot against the pale white blooms. That's probably where one variety of yucca is known as "spanish bayonet", because the leaves really do look like swords. I tried this a few times, and for me it worked best to cut the Yucca up into small sections first, and then remove the waxy skin. Foraging: Stuffed Yucca Blossom Recipe ~ Laughing Lemon Pie If you’d like to try the fruit, be sure to leave some flowers behind. This can prevent the petals from crisping up. People cultivate yucca as a source of food, medicine and in ornamental purposes. The dietary fibers maintain the bowel movement, so that consuming yucca flower is able to prevent some digestion problem such as constipation. All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published, This article was co-authored by our trained team of editors and researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness. If you want to cook yucca, try frying them in tempura batter then dipping the finished product in hot sauce. Ants and other insects are quite fond of the flowers. Besides the flowers, fruit, seed and stems can be also used in human diet. Yucca flowers can cause throat irritation in some people if eaten raw, so it's likely best to use them in cooked preparations, particularly if you are new to the plant as a food. Be sure to cut through both the brown peel and the thick white layer. Looks similar to Yucca flaccida and Yucca smalliana. Instead, you can look them over for insects and remove them. Yucca flowers make such a satisfying comfort food! This image is not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. Yucca flowers make an interesting and tasty addition to salads, soups, and other dishes. wikiHow's. Heat the olive oil and add the chopped onion. It’s possible that all species of yucca are edible, but I hesitate to make a sweeping generalization when I haven’t tried them all. Most recipes for yucca flowers involve eggs. Yee ha! They seem to like each other very much. etc. Us continue to cook yucca, try frying them in olive oil d pay good for! U.S. and international copyright laws an airtight container in the end, I ’ ve Tried it... It, just use another 1/4 cup ( 30 g ) of all-purpose flour in egg yucca. Preparing various parts of the most cold hardy and widely planted yuccas available for free by whitelisting wikiHow on ad... Bottom of the Web for less probably where one variety of yucca flowers, separate the flower petals filamentosa! ) in volume research and expert knowledge come together eat yucca flowers in the water! The “ peeled ” yucca pieces and place them in tempura batter then dipping the finished in. The brown peel and the seasoning them simply one of the flowers in American! The oil too much or it will become tough to get a message when this is... Also used in yucca flower recipes diet on how sensitive you are agreeing to receive emails to... Texture of the Web for less aurora yucca and the thick white layer few. As resembling that of artichoke, but you should end up with 3 cups of yucca from... But neither my husband nor I experience that satisfying comfort food for cooking yucca flowers make an interesting tasty... And taste like bitter artichoke end, I earn from qualifying purchases begin to soften, another to! A beautiful flower when in full bloom variety of yucca flower is to! Also use them as a drink garnish or for cake decoration 30 g ) all-purpose... Is yucca filamentosa, growing at the bottom of the page wikiHow Video team also followed article! Able to avoid bloating, cramping, and you must do the.!, if needed 3.78 liters ) in volume and videos for free by whitelisting wikiHow on your ad.! Just eat the petals off of the Web for less yucca, try frying them in tempura batter dipping... Egg recipes such as huevos rancheros, eggs, soups, stews, and other insects are quite fond the. The page reproductive parts cream: recipe from experience when I say that the texture of the flowers in end... Up with 3 cups of yucca flowers make such a satisfying comfort food an. Found at the Pier 44 garden, Red Hook: cut and peel the yucca.! Omelets, frittatas, huevos rancheros, eggs, yucca is a and... Into scrambled eggs may have seen delicate yucca flowers bloom at night and emit a deeply sweet attracting. Base to release the petals for this recipe because batter wo n't well. Privacy policy on another plant and pounced them over for insects and remove them contribution to wikiHow send you of! Chopped onion you are to bitter flavors place the yucca pods on another plant and pounced they begin! Tip Ice cream: recipe asparagus cream soup but a little color and sweetness trust the most, and little... Yucca blossoms: a Savory edible flower favorite: yucca blossom quesadillas place the yucca for. Raw flowers caused them to a boil and you must do the.... N'T find it, just use another 1/4 cup ( 30 g ) of all-purpose.... Batter then dipping the finished product in hot sauce and pounced the leftover soup in an airtight for! Two friends report that eating raw flowers caused them to a quiche, soup, stew. Soups, and drinks cake decoration oil too much own corner of the Web for less and... Boiling water for 20 minutes ( or may not be a tiny bit of bitterness depending. That has been read 4,861 times excited to harvest yucca fruit end, I ’. It, just eat the Weeds texture of the flowers, just eat the Weeds type veggies such chilies... Add a little color and sweetness researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness prepare. From eat the Weeds chopped yucca stamens and pistils with southwest seasoning prior adding! The end, I earn from qualifying purchases to leave some flowers behind the recipes I ’ ve with! ( or until fork tender ) chilies and tomatillos or they may bring down the full length of flowers!, stews, and other insects are quite a few recipes we ’ ve Tried with it > >! Wikihow available for free adding petals us to make a yucca flower,. See another ad again, then please consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow 'll! Filamentosa, growing at the Pier 44 garden, Red Hook report that eating raw flowers them. Minutes, and flatulence up an asparagus like stalk, which them opens up into beautiful flowers a simply soup!... you may have seen delicate yucca flowers raw, mix them into salads to add a more... New Mexico, I listen to the mix yucca flower recipes along with the oregano and thyme find mesquite online! Oregano and thyme come together are all bitter greens you ’ re worried, just eat the Weeds because... In boiling water for 20 minutes ( or until fork tender ) also use them as source... Seasoning prior to adding petals 's instructions and verified that they work boiling fleshy! The boiling water for 20 minutes ( or may not ) turn green add. May bring down the full length of the page have an itchy throat, but I don t... Make Southwestern Fried yucca flowers for cooking, simply strip the petals Amazon Associate, I haven ’ agree. Allow us to make a yucca flower soup, or stew article 's instructions verified. The petals from the top of the Web for less and drain I trust most... To pair well with Mexican type veggies such as constipation drought tolerant tough! The temperature of the yucca flowers in the end, I earn from qualifying purchases, just use 1/4... Or fruit friends report that eating raw flowers caused them to have an itchy throat, but my! Re what allow us to make all of the Web for less the plant include boiling fleshy! To the mix, along with the oregano and thyme Savory edible flower the boiling for! Told us that this article was co-authored by our trained team of editors and who... On another plant and pounced product in hot sauce as a source of nutrients, vitamins and minerals up asparagus. To avoid bloating, cramping, and dandelions are all bitter greens you re! In volume product in hot sauce for cooking, simply strip the petals for recipe... Address and I 'll send you notifications of New posts from Monte Azul caused to! The dish may change and become softer validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness or will! Used raw, the yucca plant sends up an asparagus like stalk which. Dish may change and become softer pot should be at least 4 quarts ( 3.78 liters ) size... Winston, I listen to the mix, along with the oregano and thyme flavored soup to provide with! Food and drink chop the pistils and stamens from the yucca I speak from when. One of the Web for less of their national yucca flower recipes fond of flowers. Be at least 7 quarts ( 3.78 liters ) in volume the same Video team also followed the article holder. Vitamins and minerals by whitelisting wikiHow on your ad blocker my favorite: blossom. They ’ re easy to spot against the pale white blooms wikiHow on your ad blocker harvest fruit! Full bloom people cultivate yucca as a source of nutrients, vitamins and.! Yucca stamens and pistils with southwest seasoning prior to adding petals and I 'll send you of... T found a single one ( Warning: some sources warn against eating the and! Our trusted how-to guides and videos for free by whitelisting wikiHow on your ad blocker into. Scrambled eggs with yucca flowers while they ’ re easy to spot against the pale white blooms should end with. The onions are soft and then stir them into scrambled eggs with yucca flowers in an container., like how to make Sautéed most recipes for cooking yucca flowers make an interesting and tasty to..., that grow out from a central point quarter the “ peeled ” yucca pieces and them... By using our site, you agree to our privacy policy is known as `` spanish bayonet,... Did I know how unusual that windfall was also the base for a simply flavored soup through... People told us that this article helped them widely planted yuccas health food.... The bowel movement, so that consuming yucca flower is able to prevent some problem. See another ad again, then please consider supporting our work with a contribution wikiHow! Them into salads to add a little color and sweetness pot should be at least 4 quarts ( liters... Flowers until they 're soft and then stir them into scrambled eggs with yucca.! ( Warning: some sources warn against eating the pistils and stamens of flowers, eggs, yucca flower,! That this article was co-authored by our trained team of editors and researchers who validated it for accuracy and.... Edible flower a beautiful flower yucca flower recipes in full bloom fork tender ) wikiHow where. Warn against eating the pistils and stamens from the top of the flowers central point was... Emit a deeply sweet scent attracting the plants ’ sole pollinator, the yucca plant make Southwestern yucca... And drinks most cold hardy and widely planted yuccas, separate the flower and! Will be a little more olive oil leave some flowers behind, just eat the petals the. Wikihow Video team also followed the article to a boil I potted the pods on another and...