Chive flowers are edible and make a beautiful addition to salads, sandwiches, and other culinary creations. They have a mild, oniony flavor and are an excellent source of vitamin C, dietary fiber, copper, and manganese.
In addition to their delicious flavor and nutrition profile, chive flowers can add color and texture to just about any dish.
Whether you’re looking to create an attractive presentation or enjoy the distinctive taste of chive blossoms, this guide will show you how to:
- Choose chive flowers for optimum nutrition and enjoyment.
- Prepare chive flowers.
- Store chive flowers.
Chive flowers are edible flowers that have a mild onion or garlic flavor. They are typically used as a garnish or added to salads, or as a flavor enhancer in recipes, such as soups.
Chive flowers are a member of the lily family and have small, lavender-colored flowers which can be eaten fresh or dried. They are also a popular addition to herbal teas, giving them a mild onion flavor.
Can Chive Flowers Be Eaten? Let’s find out!
Let’s get into the details of how chive flowers can be used in the kitchen:
Nutritional Value
Chive flowers are edible and can be eaten raw or cooked. They have a mild onion flavor and provide a colorful pop of vibrant purple to salads. They can even be used as a garnish for savory dishes. In addition to their aesthetically pleasing color, these delicate flowers are also healthy.
Nutritionally speaking, chive flowers are packed with vitamins A and C and trace amounts of iron, calcium, magnesium, and potassium. The antioxidant content in chive blossoms is also significant.
These unique antioxidants aid in cellular function while protecting against cancer-causing cells by inhibiting free radical damage from environmental toxins and sun exposure.
Chive blossoms contain two compounds – allicin and quercetin–which can help lower cholesterol levels, control glucose swings, or limit diabetes outbreaks.
Other reports suggest that these compounds may help preserve youthful skin by boosting collagen production and fighting wrinkles; however, more research is needed to confirm these findings.
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Health Benefits
Chive flowers, harvested from wild or cultivated varieties of the popular herb, are edible and packed with nutrients. They offer a wide range of health benefits, including an excellent source of vitamin C and vitamins A, K, and B6.
Chive flowers also provide fiber and minerals such as iron, calcium, and magnesium.
- Vitamin C is an antioxidant to support the immune system, while vitamins A, K, and B6 work together to aid digestion and may help reduce inflammation.
- The iron found in chive flowers helps boost the body’s oxygen-carrying capacities, calcium helps promote good bone health, and magnesium can help reduce muscle tension.
All these nutrition benefits make adding this flower to recipes a tasty way to improve your diet.
How to Prepare Chive Flowers
Chive flowers are edible and make an excellent garnish for salads, soups, and other dishes. Chive flowers are also an excellent source of vitamins and minerals and can be a tasty addition to recipes. With some simple preparation, chive flowers can be used in various dishes.
Here are some tips for how to prepare chive flowers for use in recipes:
Pickled Chive Flowers
Pickling is a great way to preserve and enjoy chive flowers. Pickling will also bring out flavors of delicate flower petals, creating a delicious savory treat.
To get started, you’ll need to gather your supplies. You’ll need clean chive flower heads, apple cider vinegar, water, honey or sugar, salt, and herbs such as thyme and marjoram (optional). When choosing chive flowers, look for fully open ones with no blemishes or discoloration.
Next, it’s time to prepare the pickling solution. Place the honey or sugar in a canning jar with enough apple cider vinegar to cover it completely.
Top this mixture with boiled water and add the herbs and salt to taste. Give everything a good stir until everything is dissolved and the mixture has cooled completely before adding the flowers.
Gently pack each of your cleaned chive flower heads loosely into the jar until it’s full while leaving some headspace at the top of each jar—about 1 inch from the rim should suffice.
Carefully pour over enough pickling liquid until they are fully covered by about an inch (2 cm).
Seal your jars tightly and store them out refrigerated for up to three months or canned according to instructions for shelf-stable storage for up to one year at room temperature in a dark cupboard away from direct light sources where they will keep their color best and longest.
Enjoy!
Fried Chive Flowers
Fried chive flowers are a great way to enjoy the delicate flavor of chives. To prepare them, first, select young, fresh chive flowers and rinse them gently in cold water.
Next, make an egg wash by combining one egg and a tablespoon of either mayonnaise or cream to create a batter. Use club soda instead of mayonnaise or cream for a lighter option.
Then, coat the chive flowers in your chosen batter before deep-frying in hot oil until crisp for about two minutes. Serve with greasy chips and lemon wedges for added flavor.
If you prefer a healthier option, try oven-baking them at 350F/175C after patting well with a kitchen roll to remove as much moisture as possible from the flowers before coating them in your chosen batter.
You can also season with salt, pepper, or other spices if desired before baking in the oven for 10-15 minutes until golden brown.
Chive Flower Omelette
Chives produce an attractive and edible flower that can be used to adorn food or prepare more robust recipes. Chive flowers add a tangy, garlic-like flavor to whatever they are cooked with and bring vibrant color to the table.
One of the most popular recipes utilizing chive flowers is an omelet. To make a chive flower omelet, you will need:
- 2 tablespoons of butter
- 2 tablespoons of chopped chives with flowers
- 6 eggs
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Grated cheese (optional)
- Chopped herbs or spices (optional)
In a small bowl, melt butter in the microwave on low heat. Once melted, stir in chopped chives with flowers until combined. Heat a nonstick skillet over medium heat. In a medium bowl, beat eggs until combined; season with salt and pepper if desired. Add the egg mixture to the hot skillet.
Gently move the pan around to cover the bottom evenly with the egg mixture after it begins to set. As eggs near completion, sprinkle grated cheese and chopped herbs or spices over the top; top with butter/chive mixture.
Finally, fold the omelet in half using a spatula as assistance if needed; cook for another 1-2 minutes before removing it from the pan and serving hot.
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Other Uses for Chive Flowers
Chive flowers might be most recognizable for their bright, colorful display in gardens, but they can be used for more than just decoration. Chive flowers are edible and can be used as a garnish for salads, soups, and other dishes. They can also add flavor and color to drinks, such as lemonade.
Let’s explore some of the other ways to use chive flowers:
Salads
Chive flowers not only make beautiful garnishes, but they are also delicious to eat. These purple blossoms can be added to salads or sauces, and they make a great complement to many dishes.
The petals of the flowers have a mild flavor and pretty pink-purple hue that adds some flair to any plate.
Chive flower petals can be added raw or lightly cooked, so you can use them depending on the dish you create. Add them to salads before serving for the best color and texture.
They pair well with other salad greens and offer an interesting crunchy texture. The unique flavor of chives also pairs nicely with fruits like oranges and strawberries, making a deliciously sweet combination.
You can also enjoy chives and flowers cooked in soups, stews, or sauces for an exciting flavor addition that stands out from the other ingredients in your dish. When lightly cooked, these purple beauties deepen in color and provide a subtly sweet taste that accentuates any meal.
Garnish
Chive flowers are edible and add a delicate onion-like flavor to salads, soups, and many other dishes. The entire flower, including the stem and stamens, is edible when cooked. When eaten raw, the flower flavor will become more pronounced as you chew on them.
The flowers can be added to salad dressings or used as an eye-catching garnish for any dish. Chive flowers can also be pickled for various dishes whose flavor and color add extra flair.
Soups
Soups are another great way to make use of chive flowers when cooking. Adding the petals can give soups a unique texture and color, almost like a garnish.
The flavor will remain subtle, with a mild onion taste at most. This makes chive flowers ideal for cream soups, especially those containing potatoes or beans.
The petals can add an elegant look to the dish and bring out the other flavors in the soup. Add chopped herb stems if you want a more spicy onion scent.
To make sure that no trace of bitterness is left in your soup, be sure to rinse off the petals before adding them to your dish.
Conclusion: Can Chive Flowers Be Eaten?
In conclusion, chive flowers can be eaten raw or cooked. They have a mild onion flavor and make a great addition to salads, sandwiches, soups, and egg dishes. If you’re looking for a new way to add some zest to your meals, consider giving chive flowers a try!
