Anglers love to eat healthily. They are always on the hunt for creative side dishes to compliment their tasty catches.
Our Montana fields are full of tasty green salad to enjoy. Dandelions offer a tasty healthy salad. First, never pick Dandelions that have been sprayed with herbicides or fertilizers. You want to enjoy a natural chemical free salad.
Dandelions are invasive weeds that were brought to Montana by early people and pioneers. This versatile plant is native to Europe, but as you know, their special airborne seed dispersal allows them to spread rapidly. There was a time when gardeners planted these weeds in their gardens.
The roots can be a few feet long and contain vitamin C. These dried roots were used as medicine. They could be dried and pounded into a powder that worked well in making teas. The leaves and flowers are also edible. Many early people also discovered that this weed made a decent tasting wine.
To harvest a healthy salad, pick the youngest and smallest leaves of the plant. Rinse thoroughly and set aside.
Now make a dressing.
Start by frying up several strips of bacon, which has been cut into ¼ inch pieces. Add a tbsp. of flour to the drippings and brown. Beat an egg in a cup of water, add 2 tbsps. Of vinegar, and salt/pepper to taste. Beat the mixture well and pour it onto your bacon drippings. Stir and bring to a boil.
Pour the warm dressing over top of the bowl of freshly cleaned dandelions. You can add croutons, cheese, spices, or other ingredients that you enjoy in your salads.
You will be surprised how well this salad goes with some fresh fish filets.
Montana Grant
