Unique NW favorite's

[fishngamereaper]

Curious if anyone else is into unique NW edibles.

In the last couple years I've gotten into picking Sala berries. We have a ton of sala on the property so loading up is easy. Turns into jam or fruit leather mostly...I grew up being told they where poisonous,  little did I know.
Doing a little reading it appears the young spring leaves where used by tribes for medicinal purposes, dried for teas etc...so I'm drying a bunch of leaves right now to try..

I'm tempted to try Madrone bark tea next....not sure how that's going to go..
Any other ideas...
When it comes to unique natural stuff I'm always trying to learn.

[LDennis24]

May not be just the Northwest but try making different stuff from nettles. They are very powerful in the iron, magnesium, calcium phosphorus dept. Full of vitamins and minerals. Go good in Top Ramen when your out in the wilderness and want an easy meal. Just boil it like spinach to remove the nettles and throw it in your Ramen. Steep it like a tea with mint leaves and add it to your Madrone bark tea. Probably turn you into a Sasqatch who can leap tall buildings!

[HntnFsh]

I assume your talking about Salal berries. I always heard they werent edible. Glad I'm wrong!
https://thenorthwestforager.com/2015/06/29/salal-berry/

[wadu1]

Another is Cascara Bark AKA Chittum name used by the insidious people as a laxative. Not for everyday use!

[pianoman9701]

I've been foraging for more than 30 years. My favorites are matsutake and porcini mushrooms. But, I also make a salad in the spring that my friend Running Squirrel taught me - miner's lettuce, wood sorrel, mustard flowers, wood violets, lemon balm, chick weed and fire weed...sometimes wild roses a little later.

[Fishhuntmike]

Not specifically to the NW, but yes to foraging.
Here is pan fried rainbow trout, nettle and deep fried dandelion flowers.

[LDennis24]

Not specifically to the NW, but yes to foraging.
Here is pan fried rainbow trout, nettle and deep fried dandelion flowers.

 

[Angry Perch]

Not specifically to the NW, but yes to foraging.
Here is pan fried rainbow trout, nettle and deep fried dandelion flowers.

That's a new one for me. Will have to try it next spring. I've got no shortage of dandelions!

[Sandberm]

My old field man told me that people eat purslane. To me it was just a weed and I have never tried it



I just noticed that Lambsquarter is edible also. Again, to me it was /is just a weed

[LDennis24]

It's amazing how many "weeds" are higher in nutrients than common vegetables. Purslane is one high in omega 3 fatty acids, dandelions, stinging nettles, koshia can even be eaten by animals and humans both. Dandelions were introduced to America by European colonizers because of their medicinal properties. Plantain is good also. Lambs quarters or pig weed is high in protein and good cooked in olive oil with salt and pepper. And last but not least, wild parsnip root is good cooked or raw but the plant itself excretes a toxin that makes your skin photosensitive and the sun will cause your skin to blister. It's best to harvest it with gloves on. This photo is parsnip.

[Fishhuntmike]

Biscuit root (Lomatium cous) is prevalent in the Blues.  Lewis and Clark collected it during their expedition.  Names like "Couse Creek" and "Biscuit Ridge" ring a bell?
Years ago I collected some and chopped up the white interior of the root, dried it in a dehydrator and turned it into flour and made biscuits!  Didnt rise much due to lack of glutens but with butter and jam was good.  Also made a flour/biscuit root black bear pepperoni pizza with homemade cheese and sauce that was excellent.   Wish I had some pics of it to share.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lomatium_cous

[pianoman9701]

I love nettles, too, for both their eating and medicinal qualities.