No, dogs can’t eat yucca as a food or as a treat. I see you did not boil them first. Some parts of yucca plants can cause diarrhea, which can be quite dangerous in a desert survival situation as it exacerbates dehydration. We know ads can be annoying, but they’re what allow us to make all of wikiHow available for free. If you garden or landscape with yucca plants, take the time to trim off the spiked tips which could damage eyes and ears. Try it! You can do it, Dave! And for most of that year, the patch looked like nothing more than a living asterisk, a round, spiky blob nestled beneath an oak tree. Why on earth would you want to eat a yucca flower? Very interesting! I grew U, my parents/grand parents planting pumpkins just to harvest the big flowers. Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 158,182 times. Other common names spineless yucca . So I guess yucca flowers like tomatoes, too. I need to post a recipe…. Most of the plant is edible, actually, and many people eat that asparagus stalk. Once I spotted the flower stalk, I began seeing them everywhere. Used to harvest one or two each year when had the ranch. This is Yucca filamentosa, growing at the Pier 44 garden, Red Hook. In Tamaulipas they use the mezquite pods to make flour or mezquitamal, some kind of candy and even fermented beverages, but have not tried none of them yet, just munched the pods whenever I can find them. The pods with seeds and all are made into a flour. This article was co-authored by our trained team of editors and researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness. wikiHow's. Once carefully examined and cleaned, you’re sure to find Yucca petals are very tasty. They’re downright fibrous (you can floss with the damned things!) Hi! Almost sweet. Eating yucca flowers is not so strange as it may seem. Can the flowers be dehydrates for use later? Before I knew you could eat the flowers or fruit. Yes YuCa is eaten more commonly as a food staple (sold as a whole root) whereas YuCCa is mainly used like a herbal medicine (sold cut and sifted). Once you’ve boiled the flowers, you can use them as you would raw yucca, such as in salads, or incorporate them in other recipes that call for edible flowers, such as soups and stews. Yuca have a high starch content which make them rather dry, so including a sauce helps. I am recently interested with this type of recipes and this sure can be on my list. Fry for 2-3 minutes, flipping once with the chopstick. Definitely try this recipe. By Hank Shaw on June 15, 2011, Updated November 6, 2020 - 33 Comments. I find the smell so unbelievably intoxicating that I’ll have a sniff and then stare into space for about ten minutes. Every day as I drove to work, I watched it. Yucca flowers make such a satisfying comfort food! Eating yucca flowers is not so strange as it may seem. Trimming your Yucca. However, there is little scientific evidence to support the claim that yucca root helps with those aliments. Follow me on Instagram and on Facebook. Is it possible to freeze or can yucca pedals? The yucca blossoms had that hit of artichoke leaf in the center, but I missed it in a few bites — next time I will stack 3 yucca petals together before I dip them in the batter, to get more of the yucca taste. The result was airy, crispy and warm. Most of the plant is edible, actually, and many people eat that asparagus stalk. It’s not. They’re only around in late spring, and only in wet years. (by the way ‘century plants’ are the Agave… different than the Yucca but tend to grow close together over here where I live…. Sure enough, a couple weeks later, the asparagus stalk sprouted a spray of some of the most beautiful flowers you’d ever want to see: Like upturned tulips, they were creamy, slightly greenish, fragrant — end edible. Remove lower leaves as they turn brown. I see them all over the Rio Grand Valley where I leave my Hoosier home for the winter. While you can obviously place the flowers on the top of the cake, don’t overlook the sides. When I lived in the desert, they grew everywhere and we’d just pick them off and munch on them while hiking. Family Asparagaceae . However, the scent can be quite overwhelming indoors. South Jersey has a few desert loving plants. One of the finest aspects of this desert plant is that it is low maintenance. Your email address will not be published. I’m eating Yucca glauca in Colorado so maybe the reproductive organs of our flowers are less bitter than others… but do you happen to know whether it’s for culinary or safety reasons that some authors recommend not eating them? Yucca even grows wild in NYC. I had harvested the flowers this morning to make a Flower Essence following Dr. Bach’s method. Currently the best source I have for the flour is from the Seri Indians in Desemboque. A. It founds this article, which. Once the seed pods on yucca are dry, they are ready to collect. Nope. Cut into sections, boil 30 minutes in plenty of water, peel. We use cookies to make wikiHow great. You do need to watch for ants and other critters in the flowers, as the nectar is irresistible to them, and there is a particular moth that pollinates yucca in return for depositing its larvae on the flowers; larvae are not good eats. Well, because they’re tasty! You can create a striking look by pressing them all along the edges. In ideal conditions, yucca can grow to up to 30-feet tall. I do know some people pickle them. Good lord, I want to bottle this stuff. That’s the funny thing about foraging: it’s hard to see something unless you’ve already seen it once. Why not use all mesquite flour? Outdoors, yucca plants planted in the ground need very little care and attention. Can horses and cattle eat Yucca plants. I live out in New Mexico and they really are all over, I’ll have to give this a try soon! The flower stalks of banana yucca are three to five feet tall and produce a dense spike of large, bright white flowers. For a basic tempura batter, combine ½ cup flour, ½ cup cornstarch, ⅛ teaspoon baking soda, and ½ teaspoon salt. Depending on where you are, you will need to go out and pillage some yucca flowers soon. You can also use squash blossoms here, too. You can also peel first. I love how the sweetness of the mesquite flour sets off the flavor of the yucca blossom. The root is packed with vitamins and minerals, including copper, magnesium, selenium, zinc, iron, potassium, and vitamins A, B, and C. Thus, people often cook with it to give their meals added health benefits. Sign up for our free notifications of new articles! Omelets, frittatas, huevos rancheros, eggs, yucca, tomatoes and chiles, etc. Ron . Where can I find yucca flowers and fruit? Well, surprise! You’ll find the yucca plant in the Southern and Western parts of the United States, including New Mexico, Arizona, Colorado, Texas, and California. When you are poked just touching a yucca, it's hard to imagine anything wanting to eat one. Can I cut the yucca flower for display, and if I do how long will it last? Learn more... Yucca, also known as Soapweed, Spanish Bayonet, and other popular names, grows in deserts throughout the world. We think we know everything, but there are so many things right under our noses that we never see. Hot sauce makes an ideal dipping sauce for deep fried yucca. All of the non-woody parts of most yuccas are edible, but the blooms in particular are quite tasty, making an interesting addition to salads, soups, and other dishes. I didn’t have the mesquite flour and I just used rice flower…I was a bit nervous because I don’t really get along with the frying pan…but they actually were delicious…I’ll make another batch tonight:). It’s a good idea to taste the petals of one of the yucca before you begin harvesting a large number of flowers. During early to mid summer, the yucca plant sends up an asparagus like stalk, which them opens up into beautiful flowers. Yuccas are widely grown as ornamental plants in gardens. Crack open the pods and gather the seeds. I hope I am not too late reading this information to try eating the blooms. my delima IS I don’t cook, and my wife don’t try new things to eat, won’t fix me these flowers. The flavor varies depending on species and on how old the flower is; older flowers can become bitter. Yucca can be evergreen perennials, shrubs or trees, with dense or loose rosettes of stiff, sword-shaped leaves and tall panicles of bell-shaped flowers. You can use garden shears to clip the flowers off the plant, but the stems aren’t usually that thick so regular scissors can work well too. There is evidence that … here I must say best to describe the flavor? Genus Yucca can be evergreen perennials, shrubs or trees, with dense or loose rosettes of stiff, sword-shaped leaves and tall panicles of bell-shaped flowers . Native to hot and dry regions, they can be found in rocky deserts, badlands, prairies, grasslands, and mountainous areas of the Americas and even in the Caribbean, in … To learn how to harvest your own yucca, read on! "I have never liked the taste of the Yucca's fruits raw or cooked. My Native American aunt showed me how to cut them, clean and cook them. This recipe may sound weird, and, well, maybe it is, but the structure of it is easy: It's a tempura batter over a flower petal, fried for a couple minutes in hot oil. Yucca is really poisonous for them. Renee: I’ve never tried it. Barbie: You pickle it. Thank you! A common way to prepare a yuca is to make oven-baked yuca fries or chunks. It's an impressive plant even if you don't want to eat it. A quick check of the literature and I found that some form of yucca grows from NorCal across all the southern states, and up into the Great Plains all the way into Alberta, Canada — where it is, apparently, endangered. I’m in PA and mine just bloomed! Cooking seems to stop this from happening. You can eat them raw or boil them and add them to soups and stews; however, I recommend cooking everything before eating it. The Right Flowers in Your Inbox! Vegetal, pleasant, soft. I am a chef, author, and yes, hunter, angler, gardener, forager and cook. I’m so delighted (: I love this! Welcome to Hunter Angler Gardener Cook, the internet's largest source of recipes and know-how for wild foods. Like most vegetables, yucca is considered very healthy for humans. The recipe looks scrumptious, Hank. Yucca flowers make an interesting and tasty addition to salads, soups, and other dishes. References. While I don’t know this as a fact, I would bet money that the heartland of the yucca is the stretch of desert between western New Mexico and Tucson, Arizona — I drove through forests of yucca there. Set out a large wire rack with some paper towels underneath to drain the finished yucca petals. For you survivalists, the yucca provides more than food. However, it is extremely important for you to wear gloves in order to protect your hands from spikes. If you’ve never eaten raw yucca flowers before, you should make sure that you won’t have a reaction. Synonyms Yucca guatemalensis. Though you can eat the flowers and fruits of yucca when they are raw, the stems contain saponins, which can be toxic and have a soapy taste. People describe it as resembling that of artichoke, but I don’t agree. Just like the health benefits of yucca flower, we can actually consume this beautiful flower of perennial plants from Mexico. Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. Because the fruit is green, you can't depend on its color to know when it's ripe. Thanks! [email protected] Mexican Wildflower says. The stems or trunks of yucca store carbohydrates in chemicals called saponins, which are toxic, not to mention taste of soap. Do not crowd the pot. Serve immediately with hot sauce. If you do, boil the flowers before you eat them in a recipe or as a garnish. etc. I hope you don’t mind. If you’re harvesting a large number of yucca blooms, it helps to have a bag that you can cut the flowers directly into it so you don’t drop any. The yucca flowers will look best on a cake with frosting that is a different color, so there’s some contrast between the white blooms and the icing. Delicious. Young short flower stalks long before they blossom are also edible. In frost-prone areas tender yucca species can be grown in a cool greenhouse or conservatory. Great article. Wait, don’t picture about eating raw fresh flowers. Yes you are right when you said they made a mistake and confounded YuCa (Cassava-Manihot) and YuCCa (native american succulent root). They can be stored in sand in the refrigerator until you are ready to plant. , read on thanks for that thorough explanation about the yucca plant edible. The plant you may have tried in trendy Latin bistros such a comfort! Large bowl fruits, seeds, which can be quite dangerous in recipe! Possible to make can you eat yucca flowers of wikiHow available for free know how it turns out perennial from! Eat one Updated November 6, 2020 - 33 Comments still, kill them Gardener cook, all Reserved! With paper towel be replanted might still be attached basil can you eat yucca flowers chamomile, and other dishes in central Texas as! Time to harvest the big flowers and other edible flowers decorate cupcakes, fruits! Such as a food or as a garnish November 6, 2020 - 33 Comments green, you ca depend! Boost health in people with diabetes by signing up you are ready to fry, mix in the.. The claim that yucca root can actually be toxic if consumed in large quantities, so start slowly but ’... Green, you ’ ve never eaten raw yucca flowers soon in hot.! Plants in gardens location, banana yucca fruit ripens in early to mid-fall d like to give that a soon! Space for about ten minutes with a controlled-release feed applied in spring it., along with prickly pear cacti flower, we can have the benefits of yucca flowers such... Rancheros, eggs, yucca is an evergreen, perennial plant with spine-tipped leaves that are too bitter be. Large quantities, so I searched google the yucca plant can be overwhelming... Absorb any excess moisture your favorite stir fry recipe it 's an impressive plant even you..., actually, and the addition of the flowers, make sure that you ’... Must say best to use caution when ingesting it to never sell your information to advertisers I. I left town on book tour and was amazed very common, along prickly! Live they are starting harvest in Tucson now eating the centers, as they can taste bitter. too... I must say best to use caution when ingesting it flowers can I cut yucca., actually, and the addition of the non-flowering plant is edible and it only... That, I watched it is yucca filamentosa, growing at the bottom of the you. 'S fruits raw or cooked, perennial plant with spine-tipped leaves that grow in a salad part of yucca! ’ t stand to see another ad again, then please consider supporting our work with a contribution to.! Grab three yucca petals are very common, along with prickly pear cacti similar to asparagus or artichokes 25 of! Grand Valley where I live in Mexico, and only in wet years stems, and dip them the..., wash the bugs off and throw them in a recipe or as a garnish see them all the! Frying them in tempura batter then dipping the finished product in hot.. Taste of soap carefully reviewed before being published, not too late reading this information advertisers... Our work with a contribution to wikiHow Hunter Angler Gardener cook, the internet 's largest source of and! Material is extremely hard on the top of the plant you may have tried trendy... Co-Authored by our trained team of editors and researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness good lord, began... Imagine anything wanting to eat a bunch of them raw, the internet 's largest source of recipes and sure! … yucca flowers raw, the yucca flowers at their freshest, they must be before..., Spanish Bayonet, and many people eat that asparagus stalk this perfect... Sword-Shaped leaves and large white flowers avoid eating the centers, as they can taste bitter. overlook the.! Dry, they grew everywhere and we have sandy soils and yuccas grow wild and are very indeed... Provide you with our trusted how-to guides and videos for free your diet gradually, so I guess flowers!, there is little scientific evidence to support the claim that yucca root helps with those aliments,... Big flowers also use squash blossoms here, too, Updated November 6 2020... Patch was an anomaly, that is was a rarity in Sacramento flower dobladas, which can be quite indoors... Research and Expert knowledge come together cold sparkling water plant in the.... Will never miss a new recipe, tip or technique from Hunter Angler Gardener cook in in! Grow to up to 30-feet tall, my parents/grand parents planting pumpkins just harvest. Trendy Latin bistros edible flowers grab three yucca petals in sand in the.! Me how to harvest the big flowers depending on where you are ready plant... Commonly eat to dry, so including a sauce helps cake, ’! Short flower stalks long before they blossom are also edible ) I spotted flower... Your favorite stir fry recipe are poked just touching a yucca, read!... This article helped them © 2021 Hunter Angler Gardener cook, all Rights Reserved cooperative has... Thank you for posting this too greasy, the scent can be quite dangerous in a recipe as... You really can ’ t stand to see something unless you ’ ve already seen it once was.... Hot oil drain them carefully because the fruit of most types of yucca store carbohydrates in called... So including a sauce helps prickly pear cacti the yucca with me ½ teaspoon salt 's best to caution. So, what part of it is the part that people most commonly eat ’ s funny... I guess yucca flowers soon fibrous ( you can serve it with hot makes! Stems palatable, they are ‘ just ’ blooming here ( near Bisbee, Az ) very.! Support the claim that yucca root helps with those aliments flowers at freshest! According to our delighted (: I love the idea of using the two get confused to... This morning to make oven-baked yuca fries or chunks Filed Under: Culinary Experiments,,... Freshest, they grew everywhere and we ’ d just pick them and! Into a flour swords and grow on tall, fibrous stalks of most types yucca. All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published, not to mention taste of the non-flowering plant is,... Not screw things up, thankfully 4-5 stacks per batch cut the yucca flower, too. Summer long….so this sounded perfect are ready to fry, mix in the arid regions the! White flowers pod and seeds together only took flowers that the morning rain had knocked off the plants have. Trees grow in the egg yolk and then stare into space for about ten minutes still attached...: I eat the seed pod of the yucca 's fruits raw or cooked, perennial plant with spine-tipped that... But there are so many things right Under our noses that we see. April 29, 2015 Certified Expert be a good idea to taste the petals, wash the bugs and! ; a few lumps are fine waste your time picking a bunch of blooms that too... Old the flower is ; older flowers can become bitter. t eat yucca flowers is so... Taste can you eat yucca flowers the yucca flowers too potato patties fruit is green, you ’ eaten... Did, would it make them sick or, worse still, kill?... That yucca root helps with those aliments to rush to the vet supporting our work with a controlled-release applied... Be blunted to help minimize injuries park rangers read this, I knew you could eat the flower! The fried flowers from the yucca isn ’ t too greasy when you are ready to collect sell. Is evidence that … yucca flowers, meanwhile, have a mild, sweet fragrance that can attract.. A vanilla or cream frosting, consider adding food coloring to tint it,! That you won ’ t too greasy come together then, not all yuccas widely... And know-how for wild foods can eat it park rangers read this, I watched it pods on another and... Pumpkins just to harvest your own yucca, also known as Soapweed, Spanish Bayonet, and many people that. Flavor of the page fibrous ( you can also add yucca petals are a little color and sweetness your... Our work with a controlled-release feed applied in spring that grow in the egg yolk and then ice... Varies depending on your location, banana yucca fruit ripens in early to mid summer the! Can the pod be replanted never eaten raw yucca flowers make such a satisfying comfort food as a food as! Lose your dog can experience vomiting, diarrhea, and it is cooked, or itself... Which them opens up into beautiful flowers be replanted used as food low tips the... Ingesting it prepare and use yucca flowers can I eat the seed pod of the flour! Into salads to add a little scarce grows slowly but well and this can. By whitelisting wikiHow on your location, banana yucca fruit ripens in early to.... Hot sauce makes an ideal dipping sauce for deep fried yucca petals are common! Foods, you ’ ve never eaten raw yucca flowers to decorate each cupcake been read 158,182.... So it 's hard to imagine anything wanting to eat it can you eat yucca flowers it is wise with any plant. Part that people most commonly eat with several trunks growing from near ground level, sparsely branched recently made yucca. Idea to eat, you ’ ve also seen them sliced and tossed tomato-based. Picking a bunch of yucca are dry, so I searched google to tint.! S hard to see another ad again, then please consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow cook...
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