You probably know Celosia as that lovely ornamental flower that shows up in fall landscapes, but did you know it’s also a vegetable?
Celosia is commonly used in the United States as landscaping or in cut flower arrangements. But in parts of Africa, India, and Indonesia, it’s well-known as a vegetable.
The leaves, young stems, and young flowers can all be eaten like field greens – boil up a mess of them with peppers – or like young amaranths, steamed and lightly seasoned.
Celosia reseeds easily and takes care of itself. There’s a lot of potential for increasing food security globally with a plant like this.
It’s good for a kitchen garden and kids can just pull a few leaves for a snack whenever they want.
Have you ever tried eating Celosia? Do you prefer it raw or cooked?
Image by marcusrg, used with a Creative Commons license
Wonder what it would taste like in a salad.
I’ve heard it’s mild and nutty, and it doesn’t turn bitter.
I haven’t tried it yet, but I’m definitely planting some in my garden this fall.