2024 Author: Jasmine Walkman | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 08:29
Garlic grass / Alliaria petiolata / is a biennial herbaceous plant of the cruciferous family. In different parts of Bulgaria the herb is also known as cream, spoon, garlic. Garlic grass usually has an unbranched stem, reaching 1 m in height.
The leaves of garlic grass are simple, toothed, the basal ones are kidney-shaped with long stalks, and the stems are heart-shaped - oval, with short stalks or sessile. The flowers are gathered in racemes. The calyx is four-leafed. Corolla white, also four-leafed. The fruit of the plant is a vaguely four-walled bare pod. The seeds have longitudinal furrows.
The whole herb has a garlic taste and smell, hence one of its names. Garlic grass blooms in April and May. It is found mainly in Europe, the Caucasus, Asia Minor and North Africa, and has been transferred to America. In our country this plant can be seen in the forests (closer to their periphery) and shady places mainly in mountainous areas up to 1050 m above sea level.
History of garlic grass
Garlic grass is one of the oldest spices used in European cuisine. Archaeological remains prove that the plant was used as early as the 7th century BC. Finely chopped, garlic grass leaves have been used to flavor salads and sauces. Sometimes they used even the younger flowers and fruits of a plant, which give the dish both a slight taste of garlic and mustard.
In France, even garlic grass seeds have been used for direct consumption. In 1860, the plant was brought to North America for culinary purposes, but garlic grass spread very quickly and became the dominant species, successfully competing with native plants.
Composition of garlic grass
Garlic grass contains essential oil (which is due to the smell of fresh drugs and which is almost lost when dried), the glucoside aliaroside, wax, carotene (provitamin A), sinigrin (in the roots and seeds). The seeds also contain up to 30% fatty oil. They also contain saponins, pentosan, sugars, vitamin C and more. They do not contain alkaloids.
Collection and storage of garlic grass
Fresh garlic stalks (Herba Alliariae) are used for medicinal purposes. They are collected from April to June. Cut the leafy top of the stem during flowering about 25 cm above. Stems with overblown flowers and damaged leaves should not be picked.
The collected and cleaned material is dried in ventilated rooms in the shade, spreading in a thin layer on frames or mats. It is recommended that this be done as soon as possible. The best results are observed when drying in an oven at a temperature of up to 40 degrees.
When dried slowly, there is a danger that the drug will change its appearance, and it can be discarded. From about 5 kg of fresh stalks 1 kg of dry ones is obtained. Store the dried material (but not for too long) in a dry and ventilated place.
Benefits of garlic grass
There are a number of documents that testify to the medicinal use of garlic grass. The herb can be used as a disinfectant and diuretic. When crushed, its leaves give off a strong smell of garlic. The juice and decoction of them can be used to treat cuts and difficult to heal wounds.
The drug is also used as a diuretic and diaphoretic, it is also used against coughs, scurvy and worms. Consumption of garlic leaves helps with respiratory diseases such as bronchitis and asthma. Applied as a paw externally, they have also been found to be effective for itching caused by insect bites or stings. Garlic grass seeds have been used as a means of inducing sneezing.
Folk medicine with garlic grass
Bulgarian folk medicine recommends a decoction of garlic grass as a diuretic and diaphoretic, against cough and scurvy, as an anthelmintic, etc.
Prepare the decoction by pouring 1-2 tablespoons of finely chopped or finely crushed fresh herb with 1 teaspoon (250 ml) of boiling water. After cooling, the liquid is filtered and drunk several times a day.
Our folk medicine recommends that the crushed fresh herb be used externally to apply difficult to heal purulent wounds and boils.
Garlic grass in cooking
A few fresh leaves from garlic grass, added to a salad or dish, give the food an interesting flavor. Medicinal garlic herb can be used as a spice instead of garlic, and mustard can be prepared from its seeds. We offer you several quick and very useful recipes with garlic grass.
Asparagus with garlic grass
Necessary products: asparagus - 1 stalk, garlic grass - 1 stalk, peppers - 1 piece (red), olives - 6 pieces, balsamic vinegar - 2 tablespoons, oregano - 1 tsp. dried, black pepper, salt, olive oil, onion - 1 small head
Method of preparation: Peel the asparagus and cook for 3-4 minutes, then wash them with cold water. Finely chop the asparagus, garlic and pepper. Season with spices and mix well all ingredients. Sprinkle on top with chopped onions and olives. Serve the prepared salad in a suitable plate.
Potato salad with garlic grass
Necessary products: garlic grass - 1 tsp. (chopped), potatoes - 6 pieces, celery - 2 stalks, mayonnaise - 1 tsp, mustard - 3/4 tsp, salt, pepper
Method of preparation: Wash the potatoes, peel them and boil them. Drain them well from the water and cut them into large cubes. Then prepare a sauce of chopped garlic, chopped celery, mayonnaise, mustard, salt and pepper. Stir the mixture and pour it over the boiled potatoes.
Garlic soup
Necessary products: garlic grass - 1 and 1/2 tsp. (chopped), carrots - 2 pieces, potatoes - 3 pieces, oregano - 4 tablespoons, basil - 6 tablespoons, garlic - 3 tablespoons. crushed, soy sauce - 1/2 tsp, water - 6 tsp, cheese - 3 tbsp. (grated)
The method of preparation: Peel, wash and chop the carrots and potatoes. Put the chopped products in boiling water and after 15 minutes add the remaining ingredients. Let the soup cook for another 25 minutes, remove from the heat and sprinkle with grated cheese. Optionally, serve the soup with yogurt.
Spicy colorful salad with garlic grass
Necessary products for the salad: corn - 1 can, beans - 1 can (salad), peppers - 2 red, onion - 1 head, green onion - 1 stalk, garlic - 2 cloves, tomatoes - 2 pieces
For the dressing: salad dressing - 3/4 tsp. (Italian), chili sauce - 3 tsp, lemon juice - 2 tbsp, garlic - 3 tbsp. (cut)
Method of preparation: In a large bowl, pour the corn, beans, chopped peppers, chopped onions and green onions, crushed garlic and diced tomatoes. In a jar, mix the Italian salad dressing, chili sauce, lemon juice and chopped garlic. Close the jar and shake well. Pour the dressing over the salad and place it in the fridge for a few hours. Serve in a suitable bowl, and use a few young garlic leaves for decoration.
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Duck Grass
Duck grass / Polygonum aviculare / is an annual herbaceous plant of the Lapadovi family. The herb is also known as goose grass, red bean, wild bean, chicken herb, pachina, bean, cob, hen, yarrow, tansy, lizard, enevichka, marigold, duck feathers, cuttlefish, yarrow, rhubarb herb, haidushka yarrow, juniper.
Bitter Grass
Bitter grass / Fumaria officinalis L. / is an annual herbaceous plant of the Rosopas family. In different parts of Bulgaria the herb is known as smoky grass, dimyanka, rabbit's tail, kosopas, medicinal rosopas, fox, rooster pants, samodivski basil, shhtare, frank licorice, shefteriche.
Picnic: Let's Take Out The Lunch Baskets On The Grass
The good days are here again. The sun is warm, the flowers rejoice, the trees sprinkle the green freshness of the world. Now is the time to take out her tablecloths lunch baskets on the grass. A common practice today, the picnic is almost as old as humanity.
