Chickweed Recipes: Grilled Cheese! (2024)

At LearningHerbs we love to love weeds. So many of those green pests that grow so easily and so abundantly are actually medicine chests in disguise. One of the first of these green allies to emerge from the snow or ground is a little star of a plant, chickweed (Stellaria media). A member of the pink family (Caryophyllaceae), its delicate stems and tiny white flowers sit unassumingly in garden beds and other disturbed soil areas. It spreads well (it is a weed!) and thrives in the cooler temperatures of spring and fall. If you’re wondering where chickweed gets its common name from, feed a plate of it to chickens and you’ll see them go bonkers for this nutritious feast — and you’ll feel the same way when you try my chickweed grilled cheese recipe!

Energetically this plant is moistening and cooling (think of eating a slice of watermelon on a hot summer day and you’ll get the idea). It is often classified as a demulcent and refrigerant. Therefore, in herbalism we tend to use it for hot and dry conditions like inflamed tissues. It’s especially adept for external use such as a poultice, or made into an ointment or salve. Try it externally on rashes, pink eye, styes, diaper rash and other inflammatory skin conditions.

It has a special affinity for bringing moisture to the mucous membranes, whether it is for soothing a hot and irritated urinary tract such as a bladder infection, or for relieving dry inflamed mucous membranes of the lungs that have resulted in a hot irritating cough.

Nicholas Culpeper (1616-1654), an herbalist from England, recommended placing chickweed poultices over the liver; it “doth wonderfully temper the heat of the liver and is effectual for all impostumes [abscess] and swellings whatsoever; for all redness in the face, wheals, pushes, itch or scabs.”

Chickweed Recipes: Grilled Cheese! (1)

Chickweed isn’t just for medicine, however; this spring green is packed with nutrients. I learned from Paul Bergner that an Amish herbal treatment for increasing breast milk features our starry wonder.

“Chickweed is highly nutritious, with an ounce of the dried herb containing 400 mg calcium, 8.4 mg of iron, 176 mg of magnesium, and 280 mg of potassium. Directions: Place an ounce of chickweed in a quart of water in a pot. Bring to a boil, and then simmer on the lowest heat for an hour. Strain and drink the quart throughout the day.”
Paul Bergner

Chickweed’s flavor bursts of fresh spring goodness. A perfect food following the heavy and rich foods of winter.

And luckily for us this is a nutritious, easy to grow and easy to harvest weed that tastes delicious! It makes a wonderful fresh salad, or can be gently steamed as a side dish. Just in case you have some picky eaters at home, this chickweed grilled cheese recipe shares a meal that is a slight twist on some good old comfort food.

Okay, admittedly I did doll up this chickweed recipe a bit, calling for goat cheese and fancy olives, but I am sure you can easily adapt this recipe for your own version of the chickweed grilled cheese sandwich.

Chickweed Grilled Cheese Sandwich

What you’ll need…

  • 2 pieces of bread
  • Soft goat cheese that spreads easily
  • 1-2 minced kalamata olives (or other high quality olives)
  • Fresh chickweed
  • Butter

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Begin by spreading the goat cheese on your sandwiches.

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Next mince your olives and sprinkle them over the cheese.

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Mince up the chickweed and cover the slice of bread well.

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Place the other slice of bread on top and cover it with a layer of butter.

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Warm up a cast iron pan (or whatever you use for grilling sandwiches). I like it to be sizzling hot when I put the sandwich on.

Place the sandwich butter side down on to the pan.

Grill until the bottom slice of bread has turned golden brown, taking care not to burn it. Spread a layer of butter on the top piece of bread.

Flip the sandwich, turn to low heat, and cover. This chickweed grilled cheese is done when both sides are golden brown and the cheese has been melted.

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Sometimes we spice this up a by adding minced garlic or a dash or two of cayenne pepper.

However you choose to eat it, I hope you get your fill of chickweed this spring with this chickweed grilled cheese recipe. And remember to harvest this plant gently, keeping your eye out for fairies!

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Chickweed Grilled Cheese

Chickweed Recipes: Grilled Cheese! (2024)

FAQs

Chickweed Recipes: Grilled Cheese!? ›

Eaten raw, it tastes like corn-on-the-cob, or like cornsilk. Cooked, it's more like spinach. Always chop the entire plant, except the roots, into bite-sized pieces before using it. A salad vegetable and pot herb par excellence, it's also great in sandwiches.

How do you prepare chickweed to eat? ›

Eaten raw, it tastes like corn-on-the-cob, or like cornsilk. Cooked, it's more like spinach. Always chop the entire plant, except the roots, into bite-sized pieces before using it. A salad vegetable and pot herb par excellence, it's also great in sandwiches.

What does the chickweed flower symbolize? ›

In the realm of folklore, Common Chickweed has quietly symbolized fidelity and love. This unassuming plant, often overlooked, has been a steadfast emblem of constancy in relationships, whispering tales of devotion through its persistent growth.

What is the common chickweed in Virginia? ›

The three main types of chickweed in Virginia are common, mouse-ear, and sticky. Common chickweed and sticky chickweed are both annuals and a bit easier to control than the perennial mouse-ear chickweed. Though, all chickweeds are easier to control than many other broadleaf weeds of turf.

Can you eat chickweed flowers? ›

Its flowers and leaves are, indeed, edible, though in large quantities the saponoids it contains can cause stomach upset. Chickweed flowers and leaves can be eaten raw or cooked. Fresh flowers and leaves are tossed into salads, stir fries, stews, or pesto.

Can you eat too much chickweed? ›

Consuming excessive amounts of chickweed can cause nausea, upset stomach, diarrhea, and vomiting. Plus, the plant is high in saponins, which are compounds that may cause an upset stomach in some people ( 2 , 8 ).

Can you eat chickweed raw? ›

Chickweed is a not only a super plant in terms of its nutritional acclaim, but it's also delicious. The flavor is often compared with corn silk. It's pleasant and mild. Chickweed is excellent raw -- use it like sprouts; eat it in sandwiches, wraps, etc.

Who should not use chickweed? ›

Special Precautions and Warnings

Some people are allergic to chickweed. Pregnancy and breast-feeding: Chickweed is commonly consumed in foods. But there isn't enough reliable information to know if chickweed is safe to use in larger amounts as medicine when pregnant or breast-feeding.

What does chickweed cure? ›

The young shoots are edible and have been used as salad greens. In homeopathy, the plant is used to relieve rheumatic pains and psoriasis. Chickweed is noted as a folk remedy for many conditions, including asthma, blood disorders, conjunctivitis, constipation, inflammation, dyspepsia, skin ailments, and obesity.

What damage does chickweed do? ›

This weed is shade tolerant enabling it to compete well with desirable plant species like cereal and oilseed crops. The seed can accumulate toxic levels of nitrogen which can cause digestive disorders to grazing animals. This weed can also delay crop drying and tangle in harvest equipment.

What is the real name for chickweed? ›

Stellaria media Linn. is a perennial plant widely dispersed in cold and temperate regions [9]. Due to its geographical distribution, it has numerous common names, however, universally known as chickweed and about 120 species have been reported [10].

Should I pull chickweed? ›

The best way to kill Chickweed is by pulling as much of it out of the ground as possible by hand.

What is the difference between star chickweed and common chickweed? ›

Notice the fine hairs covering the leaves, circumference of the stalk, and the flower buds. The leaves (with entire margins) grow opposite each other on this plant — similar to Common chickweed. However, Star chickweed's leaves are lanceolate — quite different from the shape of Common chickweed's leaves.

What are some fun facts about chickweed? ›

Chickweed originally hails from Europe and is now one of the most common weeds on the planet. And no wonder: A single plant can produce 2,500 to 15,000 seeds; the seeds remain viable for over a decade;, and several generations of the plant can emerge in a year.

What does Chickweed tea taste like? ›

Caffeine Content: None

Organic Chickweed Tea has a fresh, leafy, grassy taste.

Is chickweed toxic to dogs? ›

Common Chickweed is non-toxic to dogs, but can cause mild GI upset. 🐶 Watch for vomiting, diarrhea, drooling, and contact vet if symptoms persist. Prevent ingestion with fencing, training, and yard maintenance.

What part of chickweed is medicinal? ›

Overview. Chickweed is a plant. The leaf is used to make medicine. People take chickweed for constipation, stomach and bowel problems, blood disorders, asthma and other lung diseases, obesity, a vitamin C deficiency disease called scurvy, a skin condition called psoriasis, rabies, itching, and muscle and joint pain.

How do you use chickweed medicinally? ›

Traditional/Ethnobotanical uses

Chickweed extract has been used internally as a demulcent, but is more typically used externally for the treatment of rashes and sores. The young shoots are edible and have been used as salad greens. In homeopathy, the plant is used to relieve rheumatic pains and psoriasis.

How do you harvest and use chickweed? ›

It can be found growing in dense patches, each part of the plant supporting the other to stand up right. This formation makes it easy to harvest from. Each part above-ground is edible, but we suggest snipping only the top inch or two as the stem can become stringy and too fibrous for some people's palettes.

How do you clean chickweed? ›

Remove Chickweed By Hand

The best way to kill Chickweed is by pulling as much of it out of the ground as possible by hand. Both species have shallow root systems, however, Common Chickweed is easier to eliminate, since it does not grow back after being removed.

References

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