If you can't beat 'em, eat 'em! Just make sure the weeds haven't had any herbicides applied in the last 60 days or so.
The following chart is a list of common lawn weeds that can, in part, be eaten.
Weed Name |
Edible Part |
Preparation |
| Burdock | root | pickled, boiled in soups and stews |
| Chickweed | leaves | chopped in salads |
| Cresses | leaves | young in salad; cooked in soup |
| Dandelion | leaves, flowers | young leaves in salads, steamed, wilted, or cooked in dandelion gravy (served over mashed potatoes); young flowers in wine; dipped in egg then cornmeal and fried |
| Lambsquarters | leaves, shoots | young in salad; cook and use like spinach |
| Plantain | leaves | blanch and saute in butter and garlic |
| Purslane | leaves, stems | very young leaves chopped in salads, salty garnish; blanch and saute with olive oil, garlic, and chile |
| Red clover | flowers | chopped in salads, steeped in tea, cooked in soup |
| Shepherd's purse | leaves | blanch and saute with olive oil, garlic, and chile |
| Violet | leaves, flowers | young leaves in salad, add to marinara sauce; flowers in fruit salad, syrup, sorbet, candied |
Source: Better Homes & Gardens Step-by-Step Yard Care, p.29
