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    Home » Leafy Greens

    Milkweed Recipes

    About

    Milkweed is a delicious edible wild plant many foragers know. If you're new to the plant, please read The Forager's Guide to Milkweed that covers sustainable harvesting practices before sending me a nasty email about the monarchs.

    milkweed buds on the plant in the summer

    Milkweed buds make a great vegetable.

    Edible species

    What kind of milkweed can you eat?  I can only recommend two species for eating: Asclepias syriaca (common milkweed) and Asclepias speciosa (showy milkweed). There are other edible species but they're not as good, in my opinion.

    Safety

    Milkweed must always be cooked before eating as it can give people can get an upset stomach raw. Most people make milkweed safe for cooking by blanching it in boiling water.

    cornmeal fried milkweed pods on a plate with ranch dressing

    Cornmeal fried milkweed pods need to be on your list.

    Edible Parts

    Milkweed is a fascinating plant that has many delicious edible parts.

    Shoots

    The shoots are the fist part to come up in the spring, and make a decent vegetable. An old favorite is Milkweed Shoots Milanese.

    Buds

    Unopened milkweed flower buds make a delicious vegetable. My favorite thing to make with them is Steamed Milkweed Buds.

    Flowers

    Milkweed flowers are fruity and aromatic and turn liquids bright pink. Make sure to check out my Milkweed Flower Cordial and Shrub.

    Pods

    Young milkweed pods (harvested 2inches long or less) are my favorite part of the plant. Don't miss out on Cornmeal Fried Milkweed Pods.

    Leaves

    The leaves are edible, but tough. One thing you can do with them is puree them into pasta dough, like I do with my green Milkweed Bud Fettuccine.

    • Steamed Milkweed Buds
    • Milkweed Bud Huazontles
    • Fried Milkweed Pods
    • Southern-Style Smothered Milkweed Pods
    • Cattail and Milkweed Shoot Salad
    • Wild Shoot Salad with Dryad Saddles and Wild Mint
    • Spaghetti with Milkweed Pods, Heirloom Tomatoes, Garlic Oil and Basil
    • Milkweed Flower Cordial and Shrub
    • Milkweed Flowers
    • Milkweed Silk / Milkweed White
    • Milkweed Pods
    • Milkweed Capers
    • Shrimp with Porcini Cream
    • Milkweed Bud Fettuccine
    • Milkweed Leaf Pasta Dough
    • Milkweed Shoots Milanese

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    Chef Alan Bergo

    HI, I'm Alan: James Beard Award-winning Chef, Author, Show Host and Forager. I've been writing about cooking wild food here for over a decade. Let me show you why foraging is the most delicious thing you'll ever do.

    More about me →

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