A Floral Palate: 10 Edible Flower Recipes To Savor This Season

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As I was in the grocery store recently, I stumbled upon a salad mix which included edible flowers. Seeing this salad mix, I was pleasantly surprised by this beautiful addition on the produce shelf and soon was down a rabbit hole of recipes which featured flowers as more than just ornament. A combination of two of my most favorite things (flowers and food!), edible flowers bring a whimsical, natural beauty that is simply stunning on a plate. While a plethora of flowers are toxic and certainly not ideal for eating or decorating food with, many others are quite edible and not only beautify recipes but also include a multitude of nutritious health benefits. So, if you are looking to create a more floral inspired menu this Easter or to elevate the everyday this spring and summer, let’s dive into which flowers are edible, their health benefits, where to get them and 10 edible flower recipes to really savor this season. 

To Eat OR Not To Eat? Which Flowers Are Edible

The challenging thing when it comes to using flowers within recipes is remembering exactly which flowers are included within the edible plant list as rarely are flowers benign. Most tend either to be edible or toxic, so it most certainly is important to remember which are which! That being said, many popular flowers or flowering herbs are quite tasty and can be enjoyed in many ways whether added to salads, candied, used as decoration, made into teas, or added to syrups, jams or jellies. Common edible flower options include:

More Than Just Beauty… Edible Flower Health Benefits

While the beauty of edible flowers and the ways that they can elevate recipes, plates and everyday moments is enough to encourage their use, many also contain a plethora of health and additional nutritional benefits that also add to their accolades. Used all over the world for their multifaceted advantages, these flowers are really a remarkable addition to one’s kitchen and diet. Research suggests the following nutritional and health benefits: 

• Pansies and Violets – rich in compounds with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties 
• Roses – contain compounds which can increase relaxation and reduce anxiety 
• Chamomile – like roses, chamomile flowers can reduce anxiety and improve sleep 
• Calendula – good for the skin, burns, wounds and high in anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties 
• Marigold – like calendula, marigolds are good for the skin / wounds, and high in anti-inflammatory and antifungal properties 
• Chive Blossoms – rich in vitamins, aid digestion and immune boosting properties 
• Lavender – like chamomile, lavender can reduce anxiety and improve sleep 
• Nasturtium – like pansies, nasturtiums are rich in compounds with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties 
• Borage – can be used for sore throat or cough
• Hibiscus – compounds may help heart health by reducing blood pressure and regulating cholesterol 
• Lilac – aid digestion, rich in antioxidants and immune boosting properties
• Dandelions – rich in antioxidant compounds 
• Honeysuckle – can be used to treat skin inflammation
• Cosmos – rich in antioxidant, antifungal and antibacterial properties 

Where To Get Edible Flowers 

Now that we know all the positives for incorporating edible flowers, where can you get them? Certainly you could add them to your garden to grow your own (starter edible seed varieties and packs available HERE), but many edible flowers are also available at local farmers markets or purchased online (THIS farm offers a variety of edible flower mixes, available by color). Just be sure they have been grown organically without the use of pesticides then design until your hearts content!

10 Recipes Featuring Edible Flowers 

Regardless of whether you are looking for something savory or sweet, there are SO many wonderful edible flower recipes available. While I haven’t personally tried these just yet, here are 10 particularly delicious looking edible flower recipe options that would be fabulous to try and start off into the world of edible flowers. 

Final Thoughts 

I am so excited to venture more into the world of edible flowers! There is something just simply beautiful about a pop of floral interest on a plate and now that I know all the positive nutritional elements as well I am even more convinced that these flowers are worth incorporating into our garden in the future. I love to look for little ways to elevate the everyday and bring beauty into normal moments as this sparks such joy for me, and certainly, I believe edible flowers can add just that. So, are you interested in savoring this spring and summer season with edible flowers or do you have any favorite edible flower recipes? If so, I would love to know in the comment section below and be sure to save this post for both recipe and garden planning! 

Happy eating!

Chloe 

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