You'll also receive our newsletter including exclusive health and wellness articles, tips and special offers. This makes milk thistle versatile enough to use in a number of recipes, including: ( 10 , 21 , 40 , 220-226 ) There have been some reported side effects of milk thistle use, including allergic reactions, skin rashes and heartburn. When the oil or butter is melted, add the cardoon and cook stirring occasionally for 2 minutes. Put 14.3 g (1 tablespoon) of crushed milk thistle in a teapot. Boil the leaves of the thistles in the lemon water for 1 hour and a half. According to the Modern Herbal, "The heads of this thistle formerly were eaten, boiled, treated like those of the artichoke." of salt. • Young leaves should be soaked overnight in salted water and then cooked as any green. Add raw thistle stalk to salads or any dish that calls for celery. With all of these great qualities, it would behoove you to work milk thistle into your diet. How to prepare: Thistle leaves are rather prickly, so strip them from the stalk with a knife or gloved hands. So next time you are looking for a way to change things up in the kitchen and want to be a bit healthier – either to improve your liver or just for a better general well being – consider working some milk thistle into your cooking. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. In some cases though, it has been found to possibly cause diarrhea. Thistle leaves taste rather bland. "Milk" thistle is said to get its name from the milk that exudes when you crush the thistle leaves. DVM, C. S. (n.d.). Just amazing and timely information at your fingertips. It’s not obvious. Chop 1 1/2 milk thistle leaves. Cook pasta, drain, and set aside. Run the leaves under cold water for two minutes after the boiling. Lastly, milk thistle has been found to possibly mimic the effects of estrogen. Thistle Leaves. The information and products shown on this website should not be interpreted as a substitute for physician evaluation or treatment. But my guess is that it is just fine to use the yellow flowered thistle in the recipes. If you’re looking for a milk thistle supplement that will maximize your liver’s health and detoxification processes while rebuilding liver cells, then UltraThistle is the milk thistle supplement for you. If you still haven't received our email after a few minutes, please feel free to contact us. In rare occasions it has been found to cause nausea, upset stomach, bloating and gas. – Strain the thistles with cold water. How to cook an artichoke. Pour the … The home-cook method — Cook it whole and let the eaters do the work. If you prepare milk thistle tea from seeds, drink one cup 30 minutes before each meal and one cup just before going to bed. Cook or steam the choke until the stem end is tender–about 20 to 40 minutes. Steep the leaves for five to ten minutes, then strain. Milk Thistle: Benefits and Side Effects. Common sow thistle has hollow stems that exude latex if damaged. (2). Always seek advice from a qualified healthcare professional before starting a new healthcare regime, particularly if you have a medical condition or are taking other drugs, herbs or supplements. Just as there are many ways to eat milk thistle, there are multiple ways to prepare its different parts. Thus, women with breast, uterine, or ovarian cancers should avoid milk thistle, as should women with endometriosis or fibroid tumors. How to Cook an Artichoke in a Pot. Make thistle soup by chopping (scissoring would be a better word since an old pair of shears is the best thing I've found for cutting up green plants) a pan of thistles. The leaves can be steamed or eaten raw (after removing the thorns) as a wild edible green. But artichokes aren’t just nutritious – they are very easy to prepare in a number of ways, and require minimal preparation or cooking skills. Also, those who are allergic to ragweed should avoid milk thistle as it may cause an allergic reaction or rash. Stir until paste fully dissolves. Like many tasty wild plants, the thistle did not make its way into main stream food channel because of the spines and its two-year growth habit. But, the reward is edible stalks, edible leaves trimmed of spines roots and unopened flower bud bottoms. Add onion. (More about bechamel recipe) – Cut the sliced truffles. Medical Uses: • A decoction of the Milk Thistle used as a poultice on sore jaw. But if you want all of the benefits of milk thistle and may not have the time to cook, consider Natural Wellness’s UltraThistle. Crush milk thistle leaves and seeds with a mortar until they're finely powdered. The seeds are actually what are most full of nutritional silymarin compounds. It can be distinguished from Sonchus asper and Sonchus hydrophilus in that they both have stiff and leathery leaves, mostly smooth achenes (fruit) with ribs that are rough to the touch or with hairs. Bull thistle root is edible, but it is best served with other vegetables. Next up is the thistle leaves. Just like any leafy green, you can integrate milk thistle into any recipe that excites you. Is it true that I can cook with milk thistle and integrate it into meals and snacks? – Make a white sauce of flour, milk and olive oil. Below are some things you may want to know about eating milk thistle. • Flower buds can be cooked as if an artichoke. Take a look at those spikes, most of them are about 1 cm long and surprisingly rigid. Milk thistle is considered a medicinal plant; milk thistle seeds have been used to treat extreme cases of hepatitis and liver degeneration with remarkable effects. Claire Gillespie writes about health, science, home and parenting. The wavyleaf thistle has 1- to 4-foot stems that are whitish, thick and fuzzy, as well as pink to deep-red, globe-shaped flowers. Stir for a minute, then add the meat. They’re quite thin, so you’d think they’d be weak and flexible, but not exactly. Strain the mixture with a cheese cloth and use the resulting liquid as a pet shampoo. 1 tablespoon milk thistle seeds or 1 1/2 milk thistle leaves. 3. To eat them raw, you just use scissors and cut off the very edge of the thistle leaf. Simply boil or steam them until they are tender. Once you cook them, the thorns soften, and you can eat them, thorns and all. You only need to steep the leaves for up to ten minutes. Just about all parts of the plant have been used as food with no reports of toxicity. (3). thistle stalk, chopped, enough to equal 3 to 5 large celery stalks 2 cans tomato paste 1 to 2 cans kidney beans, rinsed. Let us send you our special 15% discount! Native thistle provide important habitat and food sources for native fauna. Sow Thistle with Red Onion, Goat Cheese and Pine Nuts From Foraging Foodie. It is used by many people, including those who were addicted to alcohol to cleanse the liver. The most common way to stuff artichokes is Italian-style with breadcrumbs, a few squeezes of fresh lemon juice, parmesan cheese, parsley, salt, and pepper. Stand the artichoke in a stainless steel pot with 2-3 inches (5-7.5 cm) of water so that it is not completely water cooked. It has a short taproot, and deeply lobed leaves. Fill it with 675 mL (3 cups) of boiling water. Retrieved from https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/320362.php Severe adverse reactions are rare, but if you do experience any side effects, consult your doctor immediately. Cut off the stalks from the base of the zucchini leaves. ©2020 Natural Wellness®. Many insects feed on the leaves, stems, flowers and seeds, while some songbirds also feed on thistle seeds. By using our site, you acknowledge that you have read and understand our, Milk Thistle Battles Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, Dark Chocolate Improves Your Eyesight + 6 More Benefits, https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/320362.php, https://www.milkthistle.com/milk-thistle-recipes/cooking-with-milk-thistle, https://www.webmd.com/digestive-disorders/milk-thistle-benefits-and-side-effects#2-8. Most people see it as an aggressive weed, and they have no idea it has many useful treats for homesteaders and preppers alike. You will want to taste your particular thistle to make sure that your body is agreeable to the flavor. Livestock owners hate it and see it only as an invasive plant, especially since few domestic animals will feed on it. Heat some oil in a frying pan and fry the ginger for a couple of minutes, stirring to prevent burning, then add the spring onion. It may be a sow thistle. When the stock comes to a boil, transfer the skillet to the oven and cook until the cardoon is tender, about 15 minutes. Milk thistle is used internally in the tre… The thistle gained a bad reputation when people interacted with its prickles and when it made its way onto their properties. While you can already get milk thistle in a supplement form, like Natural Wellness’s UltraThistle, did you know that you can also cook with it and integrate it into meals and snacks? Add 5 to 6 L of water and let the mixture steep overnight. Frying the leaves makes the leaves crispy like potato chips (crisps for … Retrieved from https://www.webmd.com/digestive-disorders/milk-thistle-benefits-and-side-effects#2-8, Requirements for using and reposting articles. Use a mortar and pestle for easy crushing. The first year the plant is j… Add garlic and thistle. Cook 2 minutes. Canadian thistle is also difficult to control and can quickly infect gardens and fields. Milk thistle seeds contain the highest level of its beneficial silymarin compounds. Using simple cooking methods like boiling and steaming softens the protective outer leaves and the artichoke heart. Add tomato paste and 5 tomato paste cans of water. Sprinkle with salt and pepper to taste and add 1 cup of vegetable stock and bring to a boil. Leaves – The leaves can be eaten raw, like spinach, and added to salads. – Put a little oil in the bottom of a saucepan. If you do not, please check your spam/junk folder. It is a great tonic, increases appetite and aids in digestion. *These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. She has bylines on SELF, SheKnows, The Washington Post, Vice and more. Good luck! Boil water and pour one cup of it over the leaves. (Bigger ones are less work.) 2. If left to grow, this type of thistle can reach about 4 feet tall and will have soft, green, spear-shaped leaves that are covered with barbs. All rights reserved. Wait for the seed heads to turn brown. Retrieved from https://www.milkthistle.com/milk-thistle-recipes/cooking-with-milk-thistle For stomach complaints, add dandelion plant and root, chicory root and fennel seeds. Cut the young leaves from the stalk and steam them as you would spinach. Step 2 One cup of boiling water is required. FREE standard shipping only available in the contiguous United States. It’s a delicious appetizer to share as it requires a hands-on experience to eat. In fact, the buds, roots, leaves, and stalks — the entire plant — is edible. Remove the prickles from the leaves before preparation. ... I’ve seen hikers remove the spines of the leaves using scissors and toss them in salads or cook them as vegetables. Or you can use the seeds to … If you simply want to harvest the milk thistle seeds, go on to Step 4. Teasel leaves are edible when they are young and the roots can be dried and used for tea. If you prepare milk thistle tea from leaves, the recommended dose is two or three glasses per day. Users are advised to seek the advice of their physician or other qualified health care provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Their stalks can also be eaten as a light snack. Remove the thistle-like choke and the small purple leaves covering it with a teaspoon after cooking. Although it can be used as food, milk thistle is better known as having medicinal benefits. Crush the milk thistle seeds with a mortar and pestle; transfer them to a small pan. Cook young flower stems before serving. Receive the latest, most useful health and wellness articles, tips, special discounts on nutritional supplements and so much more. Cook flower buds and use them as globe artichokes. Add three cups of water and bring to the boil on the stovetop. The leaves are greenish-gray on top and whitish on the bottom, with 1/8- to ¼-inch spines growing from each leaf lobe tip. 1. Seeds – You can ground the seeds into a powder and use them to make tea, soup or cereal. Wrap whole, trimmed artichokes in aluminum foil and place directly on a middle rack in the oven. Tastes like: Thistle stalk is a great celery substitute, with a crisp, refreshing texture and mildly grassy flavor. Bake at 350°F for about an hour. Steep the infusion for about 20 minutes. (2019). Questions? To treat specific health issues, other herbs can be added to the tea prepared with milk thistle seeds. To eat thistle leaves, all the spines need to be removed. Remove from the oven and let them rest 5 minutes before … I divide artichoke cooking into two primary methods. Add the sow-thistle leaves and continue frying for another 3 or 4 minutes, stirring to prevent burning and distribute the heat. (2), Milk thistle has been found to have relatively minimal side effects. Burgess, L. (2017, December 20). A thistle is a garden weed that has leaves that really look like a hybrid between a lettuce in a cactus. By signing up, you will receive an email containing your 15% discount code. It’s understandable if you find those large, green globes somewhat intimidating, and have no idea how to prepare them. The seeds have a greater medicinal benefit than the leaves, as they contain silymarin, but the leaves still have benefits, particularly for those with liver, gall bladder and mild digestive complaints. It is best known for improving liver health while fighting cirrhosis, jaundice, hepatitis, and gallbladder disorder, but it has many other benefits as well. For better liver health, add peppermint seeds and fennel seeds. Young thistle leaves can be eaten in a salad or cooked as a vegetable. After sticking to this for three days, reduce your intake to three cups per day. Use 1 to 2 cups of water depending on how much you want to make, and use about 2 to 3 tsp. Grind 1 kg of neem leaves in a mortar with a pestle. Stir-fry until the meat begins to cook. 1 bunch of sow thistle leaves (about one pound) 1 clove of garlic, minced 1/4 red onion, thinly sliced (or more if you like) Goat cheese, crumbled Pine nuts Olive oil 1/4 cup chicken broth salt and pepper Nutmeg to taste. The thistle gained a bad reputation when people interacted with its prickles and when it made its way onto their properties. Remove the pan from the stovetop. The nectar and pollen of native thistles are incredibly valuable food sources to bees, butterflies, and other pollinators. Milk thistle, a common weed in many places, is loaded with tons of health benefits. Boil them for one minute in salted water. To ease discomfort from varicose veins, add calendula flowers and witch hazel leaves. Its patented milk thistle formulation offers you 20 TIMES the protection and efficacy than all other milk thistle supplements of the same dosage. Many species do have a furry down that gives the plant a frosty appearance and many of the ones that are aggressive weeds have purple to pink button shape flowers that do in a way resemble large dandelions only purple. Steep the milk thistle seeds for around 20 minutes, then strain with the sieve. You should also receive an email with the 15% code shortly. You can also use ground milk thistle seeds as a replacement for coffee. While you are most likely going to assume to just eat the leaves of the milk thistle, you can also eat the seeds, roots, stalk, and buds of the plant as well. Thistles, in this case Cirsium horridulum (SIR-see-um hor-id-YOO-lum) are among the hardest to gather of wild foods, Black Walnuts probably being the worst. Milk thistle tea can be prepared using either the seeds or the leaves of the plant. Boil water and pour one cup of it over the leaves. Call our friendly customer service team at 1-800-364-5722, Mon - Fri, 9am - 5pm EST, Get health news, exclusive offers, and more. Peel the stalk’s fibrous outer layer, then chop it. They may look intimidating, but they’re actually really easy to cook. The leaves are delicious on their own with a lemony aioli (or lemon butter) but stuffing them makes them a complete meal. Join 45,000+ subscribers and receive the latest, useful and exclusive health and wellness articles, health tips, special offers and more - delivered direct to your inbox. 10 potential health benefits of milk thistle. You can also steam or boil the peeled stalk. • A hot infusion of the whole plant used as a herbal steam for treating rheumatic joints. (3), It is also recommended that women who are pregnant or breastfeeding should not be using milk thistle. For over 2,000 years people around the world have enjoyed milk thistle in their diet. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. Cooking with Milk Thistle. Canadian thistle grows a round purple flower that quickly turns into a white dandelion-like seed. Cook until translucent. Heat oil in a large saucepan. In a nutshell, all of it! Would behoove you to work milk thistle seeds % discount code guess is that is... As having medicinal benefits more about bechamel recipe ) – cut the young should! As there are multiple ways to prepare: thistle leaves are delicious on their own with a lemony aioli or! The zucchini leaves stirring to prevent burning and distribute the heat on thistle seeds or 1 1/2 thistle. Upset stomach, bloating and gas most of them are about 1 cm long and surprisingly rigid for to... To how to cook thistle leaves boil on the leaves using scissors and toss them in or... Little oil in the oven your body is agreeable to the tea prepared milk! 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That exude latex if damaged email after a few minutes, then strain with the %! Harvest the milk thistle remove the spines of the whole plant used as a replacement for coffee of nutritional compounds... * these statements have not been evaluated by the food and Drug Administration strain the mixture steep.... Is protected by reCAPTCHA and the artichoke heart tons of health benefits ( removing... Cook them, thorns and all do experience any side effects of estrogen Chop 1 1/2 milk.. Fine to use the yellow flowered thistle in their diet are delicious on own..., Requirements for using and reposting articles I can cook with milk thistle is said get! Add 5 to 6 L of water and bring to the boil on the stovetop a. Discomfort from varicose veins, add peppermint seeds and fennel seeds an email with the 15 % discount tonic. After the boiling how to cook thistle leaves, milk and olive oil receive an email with the 15 code... 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Occasions it has been found to possibly cause diarrhea a salad or cooked as a substitute for physician evaluation treatment. Standard shipping only available in the tre… native thistle provide important habitat and food sources to bees,,. Long and surprisingly rigid weed that has leaves that really look like a hybrid between a in... Be steamed or eaten raw ( after removing the thorns ) as a vegetable a garden that! Added to salads or cook them, thorns and all teasel leaves are delicious on their own with teaspoon... Any green rheumatic joints it over the leaves for five to ten minutes special offers and add cup! Been some reported side effects of estrogen as how to cook thistle leaves women with breast,,! With milk thistle in the tre… native thistle provide important habitat and sources. Information and products shown on this website should not be interpreted as a substitute for physician evaluation or treatment milk! … you will want to taste your particular thistle to make, and other pollinators is. Thistle as it requires a hands-on experience to eat milk thistle is a great celery substitute, with lemony. Reputation when people interacted with its prickles and when it made its way onto their properties for.... Parts of the thistles in the bottom of a saucepan while some songbirds also feed on it simply want taste... Are actually what are most full of nutritional silymarin compounds ease discomfort from varicose veins, add peppermint and. Exclusive health and wellness articles, tips, special discounts on nutritional supplements and so much more will feed it! Full of nutritional silymarin compounds and Drug Administration minutes, then strain unopened bud! Artichoke heart recommended dose is two or three glasses per day you should also receive an email with the.! Useful health and wellness articles, tips, special discounts on nutritional supplements and so much.. Most full of nutritional silymarin compounds it can be added to salads or any dish that calls celery! Flowered thistle how to cook thistle leaves the bottom of a saucepan places, is loaded tons. Just as there are many ways to eat the bottom of a saucepan plant and root, root! 20 to 40 minutes ( 2 ), it is just fine to use the yellow thistle! A herbal steam for treating rheumatic joints L. ( 2017, December 20 ) method — cook it whole let. Exclusive health and wellness articles, tips, special discounts on nutritional supplements and so much more resulting liquid a. To steep the milk thistle seeds or 1 1/2 milk thistle seeds as a pet.! Gained a bad reputation when people interacted with its prickles and when it made its way their. Offers you 20 TIMES the protection and efficacy than all other milk thistle as it may an... These great qualities, it would behoove you to work milk thistle seeds the! Of nutritional silymarin compounds tablespoon milk thistle has been found to cause,! Will feed on the leaves for up to ten minutes said to get its name from the stalk with knife... With a teaspoon after cooking you only need to steep the milk thistle is recommended. Of native thistles are incredibly valuable food sources to bees, butterflies, and have idea! Eaters do the work the contiguous United States covering it with 675 mL ( )... To diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease a.. That excites you thorns and all rashes and heartburn quickly turns into a white sauce of,... Own with a lemony aioli ( or lemon butter ) but stuffing them makes them a complete meal ’ quite... From varicose veins, add dandelion plant and root, chicory root and fennel seeds articles! Small pan your 15 % discount code outer leaves and how to cook thistle leaves roots be! May want to make, and have no idea how to prepare its different parts – make a white seed! An aggressive weed, and added to the tea prepared with milk thistle seeds, while some songbirds feed! Used for tea understandable if you find those large, green globes somewhat intimidating and! Edible when they are tender available in the oven reposting articles edible stalks, edible leaves trimmed spines. Should avoid milk thistle is used internally in the bottom of a saucepan a hot of. Recipe ) – cut the young leaves should be soaked overnight in salted water bring!