Wood sorrel leaves

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I spent the afternoon/evening in my local woods yesterday, carving a spoon (my first!) While looking for suitable wood I found loads of wood sorrel so picked a bit and had a nibble while walking.

I know wood sorrel leaves should only be eaten in very small quantities and the best use is as an addition to a salad but are there any other ways of eating the leaves? It made me wonder while brewing up later on, can the leaves be chopped fine and added to hot water to make a kind of fruity tea?



Cheers

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[stevo]

wood sorrel (oxalis acetosella, without a field book to hand) contains oxalic acid, and it is recommended that you dont eat a whole lot of it because of is acid content......fair enough, you would be too well if you just drank vinegar all day, but in moderation...fine. I like to put it in salads and munch it on the trail....lovely....I've used it as a tea. just infuse the leaves in water just off the boil for a while, the leaves lose their colour, and the water takes it on a little. I like it, but you do need quite a handful of the little things to get any strength to the flavour!! I've heard of people chilling it and stuff to make a kind of lemonade, never tried it....any one add to that?

stevo

 

[JonnyP]

I was eating lamb last night cooked over an open fire and we had a wild plant stir-fry to accompany it, with wood sorrel amongst the plants eaten. Yum yum, cheers Pete......................Jon

 

[wingstoo]

Hi Folks,

Can anyone post a picture of wood sorrell please?

Thanks

LS

 

[JonnyP]

Hi Folks,

Can anyone post a picture of wood sorrell please?

Thanks

LS

Look here...............http://www.ukwildflowers.com/Web_pages/oxalis_acetosella_wood_sorrel.htm

 

[wingstoo]

Thanks!

We had a family walk in our local (ish) woods on Saturday and there is loads up there. Will have to remember to try a handful next time!


LS

 

[eraaij]

I took this one last weekend:

One of my favorite foods.

-Emile

 

[Ketchup]

I've heard some species of wood sorrel produce underground tubers that can be used like potatoes (O. crenata, O. tuberosa...). Although these were, I think, imported from Peru, some have spread to the wild and gone native.

My horticulture manual tells me you should leave the tubers in a paper bag for some days in the sun, which will reduce the acidity.

Anyone ever tried?

 

[Ajali]

I have heard they are good with fish. I love the colour of the new leaves - it's bold and sturdy. The chemical, Oxalic acid, has a habit of binding to calcium, which can result in kidney stones. Anyone know the dangerous dosage? Because eating a little is fine and i love the flavour.
Are they not in some places called 'Harebells'?

 

[stevo]

As far as I am aware, harebell is the common name for Campanula rotundifolia, which is also called the scottish blue bell. It has very thin stems, delicate purple bell shaped flowers, and seems to like heather moors.

see http://www.arkive.org/species/ARK/plants_and_algae/Campanula_rotundifolia/

steven

 

[Jon Mawer]

If you boil them up with honey and leave to cool, this make a reasonable substitute for lemonade, but dont quote me on it if it doesnt!

 

[Shambling Shaman]

I was eating lamb last night cooked over an open fire and we had a wild plant stir-fry to accompany it, with wood sorrel amongst the plants eaten. Yum yum, cheers Pete......................Jon

Ok sorrel and...........................you cant leave my mouth watering with out a full recipe.