A dishy date
– they add a little something but aren’t the bulk of the recipe.
To that end, you can just use flowers as decoration and they’ll look really breathtaking. You can cook almost anything and include ornamental flower petals as a finishing touch.
The bright blooms of pansies are fantastic when added to the top of a summer salad. They give a pop of colour and taste really great too.
You often see this at weddings because it’s a really romantic way to finish off a dish, and it’s also something a bit out of the ordinary if you’re looking to impress.
Plants to taste
When we consume food, we don’t just enjoy the taste – a lot of things affect whether we enjoy a meal or not.
Cornell University in New York found that taste, odour, touch and visual signals play a part in the perception of how our food tastes, as well as emotions and past experience.
So, as colour and texture contribute to our experience of food, flowers should reign supreme.
Try first to identify the colours and textures of the meal and match the right floral garnish to it. Cool purples and blue petals will look great matched with green vegetables for instance.
And soft curling petals add a delicate texture to their natural crunch, while a smooth pasta dish may benefit from a crisper floral contribution, such as deep-fried courgette flowers.
Courgette flowers are actually very versatile. You can coat them in honey and vinegar or stuff them with cheese and herbs, much as you’d stuff a mushroom or pepper.
In-season for supper
Right now you can take advantage of blooms such as violas and pansies, which are ready to be picked. I love the bold colour of pansy flower heads sat atop pasta salad dishes, or try them on meringues.
Grow chamomile or lavender indoors on a sunny windowsill and add their warm, floral notes to baked goods or infuse their flavour into jams, preserves or cakes.
You can also preserve edible flower petals in oils and vinegar, and store them in an air-tight container.
So shake up Valentine’s plans and dinner dates hereafter with fabulous and fragrant flowers for a meal that’s well and truly dressed to impress.