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I just found out that hostas are edible... (warning: contains attempted humor)...
We have a large raised bed in our front yard in the shade of a big leaf maple. We have planted bergenia, ferns, and a variety of hostas. Most of the hostas are up now, stalks 10'' to 16", some unfurled. As I headed the dogs out the door this morning, I just wondered "Are they edible?".
As you experienced gardeners probably already know, they are.
Wikipedia says:
Culinary use
Hostas are edible by humans and are called "urui" in Japanese cuisine.[6] The parts eaten and the manner of preparation differ depending on the species; in some cases it is the shoots, others the leaf petiole, others the whole leaf. Younger parts are generally preferred as being more tender than older parts. The flowers are also edible.
Hostas are edible by humans and are called "urui" in Japanese cuisine.[6] The parts eaten and the manner of preparation differ depending on the species; in some cases it is the shoots, others the leaf petiole, others the whole leaf. Younger parts are generally preferred as being more tender than older parts. The flowers are also edible.
I searched online and found a lot of advice, information, recommendations, and cautions.
One question I had for which I did not find an answer was this:
If you make sausages with hosta ... are they called hostages?
10 replies
= new reply since forum marked as read
= new reply since forum marked as read
...at least that hostas present well, from http://barbaraprice.wordpress.com/2011/05/06/eat-shoots-and-leaves/
(The author's) nephew Tom DeSimone has been writing a blog about thinking deeply and living simply in Gardiner, NY. His most recent posting referred to a dinner of wild garlic mustard pesto and a side of hosta shoots. Hostas? I went straight to the garden where I thought I had dozens of hostas just coming up. A week of rain has encouraged most of my hostas to unfurl. Still, I found three or four plants at the early stage of sprouting, two of which I had planned to move anyway. Using a sharp paring knife, I cut one short, tightly wound shoot close to the soil, rinsed it well under cold water, and ate.
Cool and crisp, with the dense snap and fresh green flavor of asparagus, hosta leaves a slightly bitter after-taste that quickly dissipates. It was wonderful!
Cool and crisp, with the dense snap and fresh green flavor of asparagus, hosta leaves a slightly bitter after-taste that quickly dissipates. It was wonderful!
