Fat Hen

grahoom · Post: # 22318Post **grahoom** » Thu Jun 08, 2006 8:21 am

Hello.

i am in search of Fat Hen, not been able to ID any around where i live... anyone else found some?

supposed to be good eating.

Shirley · Post: # 22320Post **Shirley** » Thu Jun 08, 2006 8:27 am

Hi Grahoom!!

I think that we have loads of this here - the ground where the chooks are now was stripped bare of it by them too (so got non-veggie option of fat hen too lol)

Will have a proper look later on and let you know. Mind you... it's a bit of a long way to come for some pseudo-spinach lol.... especially if it's not the right stuff.

Got ground elder too which I'm going to harvest and eat - gotta try it at least once haven't you.

I'm really liking this food for free idea.

grahoom · Post: # 22323Post **grahoom** » Thu Jun 08, 2006 8:49 am

bit of a treck Shirlz2005 although i am going to the isle of skye, and the isle of raasay next wednesday!!!

so i will be doing some foraging around those parts.

ground elder, yes you gotta try in, not tried it myself.. but i am up for trying any free forages food, have to say the least favourite thing i've tried so far is limpets. - like salty chewing gum!!!

Millymollymandy · Thu Jun 08, 2006 10:59 am

Yeah got fat hen all over my veg patch which I'm ripping out by the handfuls. Free greens are fine in the spring before lettuce is available but (in my opinion) nothing is as tasty as lettuce, rocket etc. And I do not like chickweed, either to eat or as a weed. It is hateful! (Ground elder not worth eating either!). The only thing that is really tasty is hairy bittercress, but it is so small. It's over now anyway.

Andy Hamilton · Fri Jun 09, 2006 1:16 pm

fat hen illuded me for a bit as well, then I found some on allotment, a nice way to weed when you get to eat them. My digital camera has kuput so I cant take a pic I am afraid, but here is one from another site.

Shirley · Post: # 23738Post **Shirley** » Sun Jun 18, 2006 11:07 pm

Yup - I was right... got LOADS of the stuff...

Anyone got a good idea for cooking/eating it???

Andy Hamilton · Sun Jun 18, 2006 11:13 pm

er I just shove it in my mouth whilst I am weeding

Shirley · Post: # 23741Post **Shirley** » Sun Jun 18, 2006 11:15 pm

ummmm - as I'm fighting with the chooks for mine I might just wash it first lol... but I've got some in my salad plot (aka wooden box with lettuce and herbs growing in it) - is it best very young then??

Andy Hamilton · Sun Jun 18, 2006 11:21 pm

Shirlz2005 wrote:is it best very young then??

I find that it has a better taste when young if you eat it raw. It used to be a staple food and has more iron and protein than cabbage. you can use it like spinach.

Shirley · Post: # 23744Post **Shirley** » Sun Jun 18, 2006 11:29 pm

thanks for that - will have a munch tomorrow