Page 35 - The Forager’s Guide to Wild Foods
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Arrow-Leaved Balsamroot,
Balsamorhiza sagittata (ASTERACEAE)
Matt Lavin, CC-BY-SA-2.0
ARROW-LEAVED BALSAMROOT is a lovely long- leaves can be eaten raw, but most of the plant is bet-
lived herbaceous perennial found in Western North ter cooked. Shoots and leaves are best harvested ear-
America. Clumping in form, it can be found on dri- ly in the spring before the plant begins to flower. The
er hillsides and prairies often with sagebrush or in flavor of the roots is bitter and strongly pine-scented,
ponderosa pine forests. It is drought tolerant, having and is best slow cooked for hours or days to bring out
both a large tap root that can grow up to 4 inches (10 the sweet-tasting sugars. Leaf stems, gathered early
cm) wide and 8 ft. (2 m) deep, and lateral roots grow- in the morning, can be peeled and eaten like celery.
ing up to 3 ft. (1 m). SLOW COOKED VEGETABLE STEW WITH BAL-
FLOWER: Its sunflower-like, 4-inch (10 cm), bright SAMROOT LEAF STEMS: Ingredients: 1-quart veg-
yellow blooms rise above the plant in April to July. etable stock, 2 cups each of balsamroot leaf stems,
LEAF: The large arrow-shaped leaves range between carrots (cleaned, peeled, and trimmed), and crushed
2-20 inches (5-50 cm) long, ½ to 6 inches (1.5-15 tomatoes, 1 can chickpeas, 1 cup young balsamroot
cm) wide, are narrower in shape farther up the stem, leaves (washed and chopped), 2 onions (peeled and
and grey-green in color. Leaves grow from a basal rough chopped), 2 cloves garlic, cooking oil, salt
cluster with smooth edges and are coated with felt- and pepper. Preheat slow cooker on high, adding
like hairs, mostly on the undersides of the leaves. some cooking oil. Add onion and garlic. Stir and let
cook until translucent. Add balsamroot leaf stems
EDIBLE PARTS: roots, stems, leaves, flowers, and
and carrots, stir, and let cook until soft, about 25
seeds (all parts are edible)
min. Add chickpeas. Add vegetable stock, tomatoes,
KEY MEDICINAL USES: Traditionally used in wound
salt, pepper. Put on lid and turn slow cooker down
healing, as an analgesic and as an expectorant, it has
to low-medium. Cook for 3 to 4 hrs. or until de-
antifungal, and antibacterial properties.
sired doneness. Enjoy warm with nice hearty bread.
HOW TO HARVEST AND EAT: Young shoots and
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