The unknown plant: Sea lavender
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We have a huge (edible) range of plants to choose from, but sea lavender is certainly unknown to many people. Sea lavender belongs to the beach herb family and that immediately makes it a salty vegetable. In the shop there is sometimes sea aster, which is sold as sea lavender. Not surprising, because we call it that. Yet it is not the same. What is real sea lavender and where can we find it?
What is sea lavender anyway?
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Sea lavender can be found mainly on salt marshes and where ebb and flow floods certain areas. We call this salty zoom. In the Netherlands we find it especially on the slufter of Texel. But overall we encounter it in the entire delta area, on the Wadden Islands and the Wadden coast area. Furthermore, we find the plant in various places along the European coast.
Growing
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You can grow, but then you should preferably live on the coast. The plant is ideally suited to grow in a salty environment, which is disastrous for many plants. If the environment is dry and sandy, the plant does well, but it also works fine on clay.
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11 minMain dishpeanut oil, tofu stir-fry cubes finely seasoned, stir fry sauce sweet and sour, thick noodles, carrot julienne, beetroot julienne, yellow bell pepper, watercress,rainbow salad with tofu -
45 minMain dishRed cabbage, mild olive oil, quinoa plus, forest outing, lemon, sesame oil, soy sauce less salt, Bio Today tahini white in pot, tap water,grilled red cabbage with quinoa salad -
30 minDessertBrie, Roquefort, port salut, gruyere, Camembert, walnut, garlic, thyme, honey, grape, baguette, Red onion, red grape, raisins, Red wine, Red wine vinegar, Brown sugar,generous cheese plate with onion marmalade -
30 minDessertFull Milk, whipped cream, macaroon, custard powder, vanilla sugar, sugar, protein, amaretto, almond liqueur, basic recipe cooking pears,macaroon pastry with casserole
Name
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Sea lavender owes its name to the Latin “Limonium vulgare”. Limonium actually means "wet meadow plant" and Vulgare which means "normal".
Edible or not?
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The leaves of the almost identical Sea Aster are edible and for many people the leaves of the real sea lavender are also edible, but there are also people who find it absolutely not to eat (probably this is due to the emphatic salty “background” of the plant. They are picked wild and the salty taste of the salty water can be found when consuming this vegetable. Do not leave it in the vegetable drawer of your refrigerator for longer than about 3 days and if you clean it, don't put it in plain water for too long, as the plant is used to salt water.
How do you prepare it?
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It goes without saying that when you use sea lavender in the kitchen, you do not use salt. Preferably, do not cook or braise it too long, up to a maximum of 5 minutes. You can apply it well if you are going to stir-fry. Mix it with some other grows, so it doesn't get too overpowering, but adds a bit of flavor. You can also smother it in a little butter and combine it with grilled salmon or baked lamb, for example.
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5 minDrink without alcoholbananas, cool fresh apple-pear raspberry juice, Soy drink vanilla,soy fruit shake -
20 minMain dishsauerkraut, sticking potato, liquid baking product, half-to-half minced, Spice meatballs, pineapple, olive oil, liquid baking product,gratin sauerkraut dish with minced meat -
40 minMain dishlemongrass, fresh ginger, Red peppers, onions, tomato cubes, fresh cod fillet, coriander, oil, ground turmeric (koenjit), coconut milk, salt,fish in creamy coconut sauce -
15 minSide dishsweet potato, soft goat cheese, egg, spring / forest onion,stuffed sweet potato with egg
Healthy or not?
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The Sea Lavender contains a lot of tannin, which has an expectorant effect. Furthermore, it also has blood purifying properties and for those who suffer from hemorrhoids can also use it. It works disinfecting.
Finally
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Unknown to perhaps having eaten with a fish dish in a restaurant? It is certainly edible and healthy… and can even be found in our own country. In addition to all this, it is also a pleasant plant to see along the coast.