Protomayia (the first of May) in Greece is also associated sunny (but not overly warm) weather and the countryside. It is one of the few days that people like to go picknicking in parks and shady fields (since the economic crisis hit, this has become more common). You will see people collecting flowers and making wreaths out of them.
If you don't feel like collecting flowers and then making wreaths out of them, you can always add them to your food. The petals of edible species of flowers are many and varied. They add vibrant spring colour to a bed of greens, and each flower has its own distinctive taste. Some are bland while others remind you of a mixture of spices.
It may sound unusual to add flowers to your food, but it is actually more common than you think. Artichokes, zucchini flowers and capers are also edible flowers, except that they are bigger and/or covered in thorns, and don't usually get placed in a flower vase.
But if they did, they would also look pretty spectacular, wouldn't they?
John the cook at MAICh prepared these delicious salads for the students. Left: flower petals on a bed of lettuce; right: kritamos, a coastal weed (which needs to be pickled before use) in an egg and potato salad.
Click on the photo above to enlarge it and read the notes about the flower species added to it.
If you don't feel like collecting flowers and then making wreaths out of them, you can always add them to your food. The petals of edible species of flowers are many and varied. They add vibrant spring colour to a bed of greens, and each flower has its own distinctive taste. Some are bland while others remind you of a mixture of spices.
Riana's salad; you can get more information about edible flowers from her collection of photos.
It may sound unusual to add flowers to your food, but it is actually more common than you think. Artichokes, zucchini flowers and capers are also edible flowers, except that they are bigger and/or covered in thorns, and don't usually get placed in a flower vase.
But if they did, they would also look pretty spectacular, wouldn't they?
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Concern for the Zucchini flowers, hope they were lovingly cooked and eaten.
ReplyDeleteMy daft plant is still producing flowers - yes, is now the 1st of May. I pick the male flowers later in the day and cook then up for me.
Happy Springtime growing veggies and gardening,
Michelle and Zebbycat
Maria, I like the new style of your blog! Great introduction to edible flowers, but I've never eaten flowers, however I have eaten rose jam or other things made with rose petals. Thanks for the info.
ReplyDeleteI'm all for eating flowers..though artichoke?? Bad enough getting the heads off! Did I tell you we have several heads???
ReplyDeleteI *love* adding flowers to salads and other dishes! Chive flowers, dandelion and pot marigold are my favorites (as of now). Not to mention what a nice bouquet they make :)
ReplyDeleteHi there Maria, well call me old fashioned but i loved the way the blog was before, more Ahmm... organic , i know that its the fashion for all to make the page all modern, clean, in order, and all glossy but thats where you loose that unigueness , yours almost smelled like Crete , just like the food , real, tasty, that didnt look like it came out of a michellin star restaurant, however! what ever i will just love it all the same, leonard from Oz.
ReplyDeleteyes, leonard, i know the feeling, being old-fashioned is my biggest problem
ReplyDeletei need to do the same thing with my wardrobe - get rid of all my 'old' clothes, and become a modern marketable greek woman!!!
The artichoke flowers look stunning! I didn't know so many flowers were edible, but it certainly makes a pretty salad.
ReplyDelete