Dandelion Salt: A Magic Salt from the Meadow

🎂 6 + years ⏱️ 30 min 📍 Forest & Meadow ⭐ medium

You see them everywhere. The yellow flowers that look like little suns. Dandelion. They grow in meadows, between paving stones, by the roadside. Some call them weeds. But if you look closely, you'll notice: There's a lot in these flowers. You can even use them in the kitchen, for example, to make your own dandelion salt. You don't need a factory, a store, or packaging for this. Just your eyes, your hands, and a desire to try. You collect the flowers and mix them with salt. You can give the result as a gift, sprinkle it on your buttered bread, or simply admire it proudly on your shelf.

What you'll need

2 handfuls of fresh dandelion flowers
Salt (coarse or fine)
A cloth or baking paper for drying
A jar with a lid
Mortar or blender
Clean hands and a good mood

How it works

Go outside to a meadow. Look around carefully. You're looking for dandelions, yellow flowers with many small petal-like leaves. Only pick the flower heads, not the stems. Make sure no dogs are walking there. And don't take them all. Insects need food too. Two handfuls are enough.
At home, lay the flowers on a cloth. Wait a bit. If there are small creatures in them, they will crawl out. Now, use your fingers to pluck out the yellow flowers. Only the soft, yellow parts, no green, no stems. It takes a bit of effort, but you can listen to music or chat while doing it.
Choose a salt. Coarse or fine, whichever you prefer. Take about a spoonful of salt and add a spoonful of flower petals. You can use a mortar or a blender. Mix, grind, done. You can also experiment with pepper or lemon.
Spread the mixture on kitchen towels or baking paper. Not too thick, spread it out nicely. Place it in a warm spot, like on the windowsill. Let the mixture dry there for one to two days.
Fill your finished dandelion salt into a jar with a lid and shake it well. This will make it flow freely again. Give it as a gift to someone you like.
Or for your dinner. Sprinkle it on your bread, try it with quark or tomatoes. And then enjoy and be proud.