To most, dandelion greens are those pesky weeds that spoil your backyards and grow in between cracks in the pavement, and are not something delicious to eat. But this very common plant has a lot more interesting and nutritious facts up its’ sleeve!

Dandelion greens are one of the seasons first edible growths and are considered a great spring tonic and a cleansing and detoxifying plant. Like many spring greens, dandelion leaves are fairly bitter, a flavor most of us in the US are not too familiar with.

Nutritionally, dandelion greens are powerhouses – abundant in Vitamins A, C, and K, and are a good source of calcium, potassium, and fair a fair source iron – higher even than similar greens like spinach. One cup of greens contains 112% daily recommendation of vitamin A, 32% of vitamin C, and 535% of vitamin K. It also has 103 mg of calcium, and 1.7 mg or iron, about 9-10% of our daily requirements. Not bad for a weed!!

In addition to all those nutritional goodies, dandelion greens also have medicinal uses, and have been used in traditional Chinese medicine for centuries, most notably for it’s diuretic and anti-inflammatory properties. Unlike most diuretics, especially ones produced commercially, dandelions contain good amounts of potassium, a mineral that is often lost during increased urination. It’s so widely known for its diuretic properties that it’s often referred to by its’ modern French name: pissenlit or Pisse au Lit – which basically means “pee the bed”! It has similar names in Spain, Italy and old English.

It’s more common name though – dandelion – comes from Old French (dent-de-lion) and means “teeth of the lion” after it’s jagged toothed leaves. Interestingly, the entire plant is edible, including the yellow sunburst flowers, which are often sautéed or added to stir fries and the taproot of the plant can be roasted and ground and used as a coffee substitute.

Your local greenmarket will have dandelion greens in early spring, and your grocery store will have them year round. Don’t try to pick them from yards or sidewalks as these are most likely contaminated with chemicals and/or dog pee! Dandelion greens are fantastic in salads, either on their own or mixed with other greens, and are a great addition to soups, or sautéed vegetables.