Nature takes care of us like a good mother and gives us priceless gifts that we often do not know how to appreciate. This is the case of wonderful vegetables that are an excellent resource in the kitchen and a source of health in the form of nutrients. We could mention many of these foods, but this time we are going to focus on the white thistle.
Due to its flavor and texture, this vegetable has managed to conquer lovers of good food, because it produces dishes with a very rich flavor, with very few calories and many interesting nutrients. This is why white thistle deserves to be taken into account, especially if you like to eat healthy and well.
In this article we are going to tell you everything about white thistle, edible thistle full of virtues, its characteristics, Its benefits y how to cook. Starting today, if you haven't tried it yet, this vegetable will be on your shopping list.
Where is white thistle grown
El Cynara cardunculus or white thistle It has its origin in the Mediterranean area, although over time its cultivation has spread throughout Europe and even to other parts of the world, thanks to its ease of surviving in different types of soils and climates. Precisely, given its resistance, it has been a highly valued vegetable since ancient times, because it already served as food in times of scarcity. We could say that the white thistle has relieved a lot of hunger and has served as food for many families when there was nothing else with which to fill the pot and the stomach.
But what interests us about white thistle is not only its use as food, but it also has medicinal properties. This explains that greeks and romans They will try so hard to take care of the Cynara cardunculus.
What are the characteristics of this wild thistle?
El white thistle It is a herbaceous plant of the Asteraceae family that is characterized by having a evergreen type, large in size, lobed in shape and grayish green in color. It is striking that the leaves emerge directly from the ground and the plant can exceed one meter in height.
Its flowers are also voluminous, spherical in shape and purple in color and, sometimes, white.
If you want to search for the thistle in the wild, observe by by rocky slope areas, roadsides and wildlands, without building, because it is in these places where the edible thistle usually grows. Although you don't have to go out and collect thistle on your own, unless you like this adventure, you can grow it yourself or buy it in stores, from the garden.
What do you need to grow white thistle?
You don't need much to grow white thistle. Just a piece of land with soil that has good drainage and much better if it has a certain acidity. As for light, it can endure semi-shade, although thistle loves sunlight, so the sunnier the location, the better it will reproduce.
It needs regular watering, especially during the flowering period, when the stems begin to appear.
It is preferable to sow it in the spring, to avoid frosts, which it does not tolerate very well. And so the collection time of the white thistle It will be approximately four months later, that is, between the end of summer and autumn.
What diseases usually affect edible thistle?
Although it is a resistant plant, this does not mean that a pest or disease cannot affect the white thistle. The most common are the black donut, the aphid and the mildew fungus.
The first is a caterpillar that comes out when night falls and eats the thistle leaves. To eliminate it you will need to use an ecological insecticide.
You can avoid the aphid if you avoid excessive risk, as it appears due to humidity. Although it also usually comes out if the fertilizer has too much nitrogen. With garlic extract you can repel it and potassium soap will also help you scare it away.
If you find brown spots on thistle, it is probably the Mildew fungus. Eliminate the parts where you find it and ensure that the plant has good aeration.
What are the properties and benefits of white thistle?
As we said at the beginning, white thistle is rich in nutritional properties, among which are its contribution in vitamins C, K, potassium, calcium and fiber.
Between the benefits that thistle brings to our health They are that it is a very food easily digestible, with antioxidant, who strengthens the immune system and the bones.
As it is a vegetable with high water content, it is light and helps clean vital organs such as the liver and gallbladder.
How do you cook white thistle?
Taking into account how interesting this food is, we have no choice but to teach you how to cook it. The options are many, from preparing it to eat it with bechamel, to eating it in stews, roasts and stir-fries for the lighter ones. For example, sautéed with garlic and lemon is delicious and very low in calories, which makes it an acceptable delicacy for those looking to lose weight.
The flavor of the white thistle stem is said to be very reminiscent of the flavor of the artichoke, soft and delicate.
Medicinal uses of white thistle
having seen the white thistle properties You must already imagine why it was so used for medicinal purposes. They are their digestive and purifying properties a true treasure that has turned this vegetable into an appreciated medicinal resource for stimulate appetiteas stomach tonic and to help as diuretic in people who have fluid retention.
This is all we can tell you about white thistle as edible thistle, a vegetable that you can grow if you have land for it, or collect from the field, if you are fond of it. Because having it in your pantry will be good for you to prepare varied, healthy and delicious dishes. And, furthermore, it never hurts to know that it also has medicinal uses for which it has been used since ancient times and that today can help you improve your health.