Autumn Wild Harvested Salad
Tied Species:Stellaria media, Nasturtium officinale, Persicaria maculosa, Allium vineale, Helianthus tuberosus, Juglans nigra,
Ecoregions:Eco-324, Eco-785, Eco-696, Eco-778, Eco-322, Eco-792, Eco-325, Eco-779, Eco-390, Eco-380, Eco-344, Eco-675, Eco-338, Eco-786, Eco-639, Eco-326, Eco-634, Eco-352, Eco-346, Eco-41, Eco-327, Eco-379, Eco-318, Eco-357, Eco-315, Eco-791, Eco-642, Eco-313, Eco-411, Eco-780, Eco-661, Eco-312, Eco-320, Eco-705, Eco-632, Eco-38, Eco-328, Eco-314, Eco-332, Eco-662, Eco-636, Eco-391, Eco-651, Eco-635, Eco-666, Eco-677, Eco-781, Eco-381, Eco-321, Eco-663, Eco-345, Eco-646,
Updated: Thu Apr 11 2024
Disclaimer: This content is for educational purposes only. Before consuming anything make sure you have properly identified it and speak to a professional about any possible effects.
Just a quick little wild salad available before winter sets in.
All of the ingredients are pretty common and can be found in open places quite close to where people live. They are all also easily grown in your backyard, although a walnut tree can take up some space. Many of the ingredients, or a similar variety, may also be found for sale in stores or markets and this may be an easier choice for some.
When it comes to watercress in particular, you may want to purchase or cultivate it. Since it grows in water, you want to be sure that the water source isn't contaminated in any way to avoid illness.
You might be familiar with all of these common plants already, but I've added some photos and context below.
But first! The quick recipe.
Ingredients
- Stellaria media - chickweed: 1 cup
- Nasturtium officinale - watercress: 1 cup
- Persicaria maculosa - lady's thumb: 1/2 cup leaves and flowers
- Allium vineale - wild garlic: 1/2 cup leaves(look like shoots or grass)
- Helianthus tuberosus - Jerusalem artichoke: 3/4 cup thinly sliced tubers
- Juglans nigra - black walnut: 1/2 cup chopped nuts (or hazelnuts, pine nuts, any other nut on hand)
For me this makes a nice side salad or small meal. I would probably recommend adding your dressing of choice, and maybe some sort of dried berries to round it out.
Chop everything into whatever size you are feeling.
Jerusalem artichoke doesn't need to be cooked if it is thinly sliced and adds some nice crisp crunch. If cooked it turns more potato-like.
If harvesting your own walnuts beware of the outer hull that when crushed will stain just about everything it touches, including your hands.
I'm not going to go into species identification here but I will give a few notes below. These are nice beginner species to ID as they are all pretty distinct without harmful look-alikes, so pick up a field guide if wild harvesting.
There are many species of chickweed all of which are edible and similar looking.
There are also some other species in the same family as lady's thumb called the smartweeds which can be similar, but are all edible with varying degrees of peppery flavor.
Wild garlic also has some similar relatives which are edible. The smell of onions should be obvious when crushed.
Tubers and nuts of Jerusalem artichoke and walnut respectively are quite distinct.
Enjoy!
References
Brill, S., & Dean, E. (1994). Identifying and harvesting edible and medicinal plants in wild (and not so wild) places. Harper.