Did you know that you can find some incredible edibles at your local grocery store? Edible plants are plentiful and easy to find. From herbs to greens, fruits to nuts, and seeds to spices, you can find an incredible array of edible plants in any grocery store. From using them for flavoring foods to using them for medicinal purposes, there are so many reasons to take advantage of the abundance of edible plants that are available to us. Edible plants are available all year round so you can find them year round as well. Here are some of the most common edible plants that you can find at your local grocery store and how to use them.
Celery
Celery is a plant that can be found in any grocery store. It has a crunchy, fibrous stalk and light green leaves.
The two main things that you can do with celery are juice it or use it as an ingredient in a salad dressing. If you are juicing celery, use about 4 stalks to achieve a sweet flavor and to balance the taste of the other ingredients in your juicer. Celery can also be added to any salad dressing recipe for a refreshing taste and crunchy texture. Plant Database
Cucumber
Cucumbers are some of the most popular edible plants and you can find them at just about every grocery store. Cucumbers come in many different shapes, sizes, and colors. The regular cucumber is green and long, but you can also find them yellow, pink, or even white! Cucumbers are low calorie and are a great addition to a salad. They can be sliced up and added to yogurt or used in a smoothie. You can also use cucumbers as wraps for your sandwich which will add a refreshing element to it.
English Pea
English Peas are usually available in the frozen section. They are a great alternative to peas because they grow faster and can be harvested sooner. Once the peas are harvested, you can blanch them or steam them for a few minutes before serving.
Garlic
Garlic is an excellent plant to add to your grocery list. It can be used in multiple ways, and it’s easily accessible at your local grocery store. You can use it as a spice or you can eat the cloves raw as they are. Garlic has many benefits, including reduced risk of cardiovascular disease, improved immune function, and antibacterial properties.
Herb Smothering Herbs in Olive Oil
One of the most common edible plants you can find at your local grocery store is herbs. Herbs are available year round and they go great on many different dishes. For example, if you wanted to smother them in olive oil, you can use the typical herbs like basil or cilantro but you could also try parsley, chives, tarragon, mint, or rosemary. By cooking your herbs in olive oil before using them as a garnish on your dish, you’re infusing flavor while also getting more nutritional value.
How to Harvest Fresh Mint for Mint Juleps
Fresh mint is one of those plants that you can find in the produce section of your local grocery store. The wonderful thing about fresh mint is that it’s versatile and can be used for cooking or flavoring drinks. One of the most popular drinks that use fresh mint is a mint julep. Mint juleps are refreshing beverages made with bourbon, sugar, ice, and fresh mint. To harvest fresh mint for a traditional mint julep, take a few sprigs of the plant and place them on top of the ice and other ingredients. You can also crush up the leaves to release their flavor for maximum impact!
How to Dry Herbs for Use Later
One way to use edible plants is to dry them. Drying herbs is a great way to preserve them for later use and this process can be done at home with little effort. Here’s how:
-Select a relatively cool, dry day for your drying session.
-Rinse herbs well in cold water and pat dry with paper towels or a dish towel. Leave the leaves whole or chop into large pieces.
-Set up a low heat source like a clothes iron on an ironing board or a radiator. You want it to be hot enough that you can hold your hand over it, but not too hot where you can
How to Eat Fresh Figs for Dessert
Figs are one of the most popular fruit selections at grocery stores. Figs are excellent for dessert or a snack. To eat fresh figs, simply cut them in half and remove the seeds. If you prefer to have them without any sugar, simply enjoy them as they are!
Conclusion
We hope these 13 edible plants that you can find at the local grocery store have provided you with some ideas for ways to incorporate fresh produce into your diet. You can even turn them into a handy grocery list for your next trip to the grocery store!
This article is provided by https://www.gardenconnect.com/plant-database
