Don't fight chickweed, invite it into your kitchen. And if it's not growing as a weed in your home, go find it. The weeds can definitely be spotted somewhere nearby. Chickweed provides plenty of nutrients, accompanied by a mild taste.

Chickweed is tasty and healthy and can be processed in many ways

Every day is collection day

We usually only enjoy fresh edible plants for a short part of the year. Chickweed is different. The weed grows even on cold winter days, as long as the temperatures are not below zero. It winters green. It mainly shows us its small, white flowers between March and October. At any time, the plant may be collected and used in food.

The ingredients

Fresh chickweed has many healthy ingredients to offer us. Here is an excerpt:

  • vitamin C
  • Vitamin A
  • potassium
  • phosphorus
  • magnesium
  • copper
  • silica

Just 50 grams of chickweed are enough to cover the full daily vitamin C requirement. The wild herb is also rich in vegetable proteins.

Healing effect

Raw chickweed also contains a compound called aucubin. This is a glycoside that has a strengthening effect on our immune system and also slows down the aging process.

Chickweed also has healing powers in the case of illnesses that have already occurred. In homeopathic form, it is good for rheumatism and gout. Pastor Kneipp trusted her healing powers for lung diseases, congestion and hemorrhoids.

tips

Take a close look when collecting, because there is a risk of confusion with the slightly poisonous field parasite.

Chickweed in green smoothies

The easiest and best way to incorporate chickweed into your own diet is to add it to green smoothies. Since the herb is neither heated nor otherwise changed significantly, all nutrients are retained.

If the wild plant is processed immediately after collection, the loss of so-called secondary plant substances is low. These are increasingly becoming the focus of research. It could well be that they are far more important to our health than previously thought.

tips

Chickweed can be combined with any other herbs or even fruit to create a different taste with this healthy drink.

Chickweed as a salad

Chickweed spreads over large areas, so when collecting it you will usually discover many plants at once. Although the leaves and flowers are small, the mass is enough to fill a whole basket with it. Take a pair of scissors with you so that you can cut the chickweed close to the ground. After a few days or weeks you can come back and harvest the new growth.

Chickweed can be prepared in a salad just like a lettuce grown in the garden.

tips

Collect chickweed well away from busy roads or paths where dogs can pass.

Chickweed pesto

Here is a recipe for a green pesto with chickweed:

  • 2 handfuls of fresh chickweed
  • 2 cloves of garlic
  • 100 ml good olive oil
  • some salt and pepper
  • 50-100g grated Parmesan
  • 50 grams of pine nuts
  • Roast the pine nuts in a pan and let them cool.
  • Wash the chickweed thoroughly, let it dry and then cut it into small pieces.
  • Place all ingredients in a blender and blend finely.

    • The pesto goes well with pasta and boiled potatoes. It can be kept in the fridge for many days, preferably sealed in a jar.

Category:

Herbs