Edible flowers make a lovely garnish for many of the dishes you whip up in your Dallas outdoor kitchen. Of course, you need to be sure the blooms haven’t been exposed to chemical fertilizers, weed killers, or pesticides. That’s one reason you should never eat flowers you pick by the roadside or purchase from a florist. Unfortunately, collecting uncontaminated wildflowers at the
Cedar Ridge Preserve could get you a slap on the wrist in the form of a fine.
Instead, you should grow
edible flowers at home. Then, you don’t have to worry about chemicals, environmental preservation, or having your decorative blossoms wilt by the time you serve dinner. Use floral toppings sparingly. Some are potent enough to have unintended gastric consequences if you overdo it.
Many edible blooms grow well in patio settings in Dallas. Outdoor kitchens often feature a pergola style covering that is ideal for hanging flower pots. You may also wish to use decorative terra cotta containers that can be moved about as needed. Or, plant your edible flowers in raised boxes where they will be easy to care for and receive plenty of sun. All these
container garden options enhance soil drainage and moisture evaporation, so water your plants frequently in hot weather.
Possible Species to Use
There are dozens of edible flower
varieties to choose from. Herbs that bloom can provide both leaves and blossom heads for your enjoyment. Here are a number of favorites:
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- Basil - use these pale blossoms to top Italian cuisine for a delicate touch of spice
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- Chives - these purple flowers make a colorful salad component
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- Dill - flavor soup with these yellow flower heads immediately prior to serving
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- Mint - pop these into a chilled fruit dish for a cool, refreshing taste
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- Sage - add these pastel blooms to sauces or use to garnish a meat dish
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Decorative flowers also have lots of potential uses in your Dallas outdoor kitchen cuisine. Marigolds, pansies, violets, impatiens, geraniums, and nasturtium all offer their own flavors. Climbing plants like honeysuckle and some species of roses can entwine around your covered patio. These provide sweet, edible blossoms while scenting the air with their fragrance.
Preparing Your Flowers for the Table
Harvest flowers early in the morning when they have not yet lost moisture to the Texas heat. Freshen up blooms in cold water if they start to wilt. Check for bugs before you serve any plant parts. You don’t want guests to get a creepy crawly surprise in their meal.
Not all the parts of a flower are necessarily
edible. Generally, you should remove sepals (the leaf like covering of the blossom), and the stem. Also get rid of the pollen bearing parts of the flower to decrease the likelihood of an allergic reaction. The large outer petals are usually the tastiest part of a bloom.