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So, my Stellas are really producing this year. I really like the taste of the buds, and munch them as I putter about, but I would like to have a recipe specifically to use them. Something special that maybe also features a few open flowers as well. Something cooked? Or sauced? They have an exceedingly mild flavor, so it would have to have a light hand, if you know what I mean.
Any ideas?:)
Stellas? What are those?
Oh, Ha Ha Steve. Sorry about that. They're daylilies. Light yellow ones, very mild and slightly sweet if you let the buds open. In bud they look kind of like a green bean, if you squint. I like to wait until the bud has started turning color, but still tight. But they can be used before that and after.
Oh. Thanks. I've never cooked with flowers before. But I should think hard because we've got a bunch of organic ones coming up sometime this summer (I hope!).
Depending on how many you have, I might treat them like soybeans -- maybe a little dressing of a really good soy sauce after steaming them in a bit of vegetable or chicken stock or maybe even a little rice wine/sake. I'm guessing you don't need to cook these before eating, but would cooking change some properties/flavors in a beneficial way? Or maybe as part of a nice mixed-greens salad, dressed with a very light oil (like canola) and verjus instead of vinegar. That way you could garnish with some of the open flowers. Maybe on a light sorbet or ice cream?
The only recipe I know I've seen that uses these is one for hot & sour soup.
I've never cooked with them, myself. I will be interested to hear about your cooking experiment. I have a lot of Stella d'Oro daylilies as well and they are forming buds like crazy this week... the deer have only munched some of them.
I'll be darned, I've got Stellas growing all over the place.....and it has never once occurred to me to munch on them.
Learn something new everyday.
(DH will I'm sure not be happy if I go to munching on the daylilies.)
Never heard of Stellas before. Is it a regional item? So you eat the buds from light yellow daylilies that are named Stella's. would like to know more about this!
Good ideas Steve. I like the simmering in wine.
Rosemary, that is how I have always heard them used, but I just thought since I have so many and I do like them, I'd try to compose a recipe just for them.
Blackdog, try one! Just pick the bud and munch away. Your husband won't know. But be sure it's daylilies. Easter lilies are NOT edible.
Tussiemussies, I guess you can eat any daylily bud. I just happen to have tons of Stellas, which is just the variety of daylily. I have heard that the darker colored ones are stronger in flavor but I've never put that to the test.
Hi Everybody
In sauce they are very delicious.
Wonder if Iris lily would know something about recipes with these?