Every child knows that hops are essential for brewing beer. Very few people know that you can also eat hops. The spring vegetables, once decried as poor people's food, are now considered a real delicacy. The young shoots are edible and have to be laboriously harvested by hand.

The young shoots of the hops can be processed into delicious dishes in the kitchen

Uses for hops in the kitchen

  • hop soup
  • hop salad
  • hop vegetables
  • hop liqueur
  • hop brandy

Hops, including wild hops, are not poisonous but are now considered a real delicacy. The tender sprouts have a slightly nutty taste. Hops are cooked and prepared like asparagus. Therefore, hops can be used for all dishes for which you can also use asparagus.

Harvest time for hop asparagus

The harvest time for hop asparagus is spring, when the tender sprouts sprout from the ground. Hops develop hundreds of such side shoots. If it is used commercially, only four to six hop tendrils remain. The rest is cut and can then be prepared in the kitchen.

Harvesting, which only lasts a few weeks in spring, is exhausting. Each finger-thick shoot has to be picked by hand. To do this, it is carefully clipped off with thumb and forefinger. The sensitive sprouts cannot be stored for long. They should be processed as soon as possible.

boil hops

You cook hops in the same way as green asparagus. It is enough if you cut off the end, wash the hops thoroughly and let them dry.

It is then cooked in boiling water with salt and sugar or spices to taste for a few minutes. You can also gratinate hop asparagus with cheese in the oven and eat it warm.

The hop sprouts can also be used to make liqueur or hop schnapps.

Hops are edible raw and cooked

Survival experts value raw hops as a way to nourish yourself on the go. The young sprouts can also be eaten raw. However, they should then dampen the sex drive.

When cooked, hops develop the desired aroma. Food with boiled hops is said to have a sex drive-enhancing effect.

tips

In the largest growing area for hops, the Hallertau or Holledau, the day laborers once received part of their wages in hop asparagus. Therefore, hops are considered poor people's food, which used to only be served in times of need.

Category:

Vegetable garden