How to Use Nasturtiums in Food

The nasturtium (Tropaeolum majus) is a hardy annual that grows by climbing and sprawling. It produces beautiful flowers that can be put to great culinary use, and the leaves are also edible.

Ingredients

For All Methods Below

  • Unsprayed/untreated nasturtium flowers and/or leaves and/or seeds

Nasturtium Omelette

Serves 1

  • 50g/2 oz tender runner beans
  • 2 eggs
  • 30ml/2 tablespoons milk
  • 2 nasturtium seeds
  • 2 young nasturtium leaves
  • 4 nasturtiums, petals only
  • Freshly ground salt and black pepper, to taste
  • 15ml/1 tablespoon butter
  • Parmesan cheese, grated, to taste
Method 1
Method 1 of 7:

Preparation

  1. Image titled Nasturtiums
    1
    Use any part of the nasturtium.[1] The leaves, seed pods and flowers are all edible.[2] The flavour is a cross between mustard and slight sweetness.
    • Flowers should be harvested just as they open. Smaller flowers are usually best for eating, while larger flowers are better as garnishes or for being ripped apart and chopped or minced.[3]
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Method 2
Method 2 of 7:

Adding to salads

  1. Image titled TomatoRoquefortWaterNasturtium
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    Use the leaves in a salad. The leaves have a hot, peppery taste. Simply chop them up and add to the salad.[4]
    • The leaves make an ideal substitute for watercress.
  2. Image titled Nasturtium Salad
    2
    Throw the flowers into the salad. The flowers come in a range of colours from gold and orange to red. These can make a beautiful feature in a salad, with the bonus that they're edible too.[5]
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Method 3
Method 3 of 7:

Using nasturtiums as caper substitutions

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    Use the seed pods (green) as a good substitute for capers. Use them in any dish where you'd usually use capers, such as on pizza or in salads.[6]
    • They're best pickled first.[7] To pickle, see further How to pickle nasturtium seeds.
Method 4
Method 4 of 7:

Making nasturtium condiments

  1. Image titled Use Nasturtiums in Food Step 5
    1
    Use a combination of leaves and seeds. Blend them into butter or soft cheese for an added spicy flavour.
  2. Image titled Use Nasturtiums in Food Step 6
    2
    Add nasturtium petals and leaves to oils, dressings or vinegars. Mince them prior to adding. For example, see How to make nasturtium flower vinegar.
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Method 5
Method 5 of 7:

Adding as a garnish

  1. 1
    Add the flowers to savory dishes and desserts, to given them a touch of elegance. For example:
Method 6
Method 6 of 7:

Stuffed nasturtiums

These little delicacies are perfect for afternoon tea finger nibbles.

  1. Image titled Use Nasturtiums in Food Step 8
    1
    Select large, whole flowers in good condition. While not essential, it's more effective to choose a variety of colors for variation.
  2. Image titled Use Nasturtiums in Food Step 9
    2
    Choose a suitable stuffing. Any soft cheese, dip or guacamole will make an ideal stuffing.[8]
  3. Image titled Use Nasturtiums in Food Step 10
    3
    Put teaspoonfuls of stuffing inside the flower until about three quarters full. Gently fold the petals back around the stuffing, the stickiness of which should hold the petals in place.
  4. Image titled Use Nasturtiums in Food Step 11
    4
    Serve with Melba toast or crackers. The stuffed flower goes on top of the toast or cracker for ease of eating and completes the texture perfectly.
    • Alternatives to toast or crackers include slices of cucumber, sticks of celery or slivers of capsicum/bell peppers.
    • The stuffed flower can be eaten alone if desired.
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Method 7
Method 7 of 7:

Making a nasturtium omelette

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    1
    Cut the runner beans into thin slices. Add to a saucepan of boiling water and boil for 4 minutes. Drain and set aside.
  2. Image titled Use Nasturtiums in Food Step 13
    2
    Crack the eggs into a mixing bowl. Pour in the milk and beat together.
  3. Image titled Use Nasturtiums in Food Step 14
    3
    Using the back of a fork, crush the nasturtium seeds. Add them to the egg mixture. Also toss in the leaves and petals.
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    4
    Season to taste with salt and pepper.
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    5
    Add the butter to the frying pan. Melt over gentle heat.
  6. Image titled Use Nasturtiums in Food Step 17
    6
    Pour in the egg and nasturtium mixture. Add the boiled beans and stir quickly. Then allow to cook gently until the omelette sets.
  7. Image titled Use Nasturtiums in Food Step 18
    7
    Serve. Sprinkle grated Parmesan cheese over the omelette and serve. Garnish with nasturtium petals.
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Community Q&A

  • Question
    What is the nutritional value of nasturtiums?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    Nasturtiums contain Vitamin C and iron, as well as antibiotic properties in the leaves.
  • Question
    Is it true that nasturtiums are good relaxers and anti-stress remedies?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    Herb remedies are said to relax people, although this has never been scientifically proven. However, you should try it if you need a natural relaxer. It might work for you.
  • Question
    Can I use nasturtium leaves to make dolmades?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    As far as I know, that has never been done before. However, nasturtiums do go well with stuffed meat and vegetable dishes, so by all means, try it!
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Warnings

  • Do not eat nasturtiums that have been sprayed or treated with pesticides. Do not pick nasturtiums from the roadside or take them from anywhere that you cannot be sure how safe they are.
    ⧼thumbs_response⧽
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Things You'll Need

  • Nasturtium plant
  • Ingredients
  • Blender
  • Frying pan
  • Mixing implements


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References

  1. ↑ https://www.motherearthnews.com/real-food/nasturtium-zmaz82mjzglo
  2. ↑ Rosalind Creasy, The Edible Flower Garden, p. 51, (1999), ISBN 962-593-293-3
  3. ↑ https://garden.org/learn/articles/view/4112/
  4. ↑ https://www.bite.co.nz/recipe/12356/Nasturtium-salad-with-balsamic-dressing/
  5. ↑ http://www.simplebites.net/nasturtium-and-tomato-salad-with-herbs/
  6. ↑ https://www.gardenbetty.com/poor-mans-capers-pickled-nasturtium-pods/
  7. ↑ https://www.splendidtable.org/recipes/nasturtium-capers
  8. ↑ https://www.food.com/recipe/stuffed-nasturtium-flowers-126169
  9. Nasturtium omelette adapted from Kathy Brown, The Edible Flower Garden, p. 106, (2001), ISBN 1-85967-879-3
  1. Rosalind Creasy, The Edible Flower Garden, pp. 50-51, (1999), ISBN 962-593-293-3 – research source

About This Article

Christopher M. Osborne, PhD
Co-authored by:
Christopher M. Osborne, PhD
wikiHow Staff Writer
This article was co-authored by wikiHow staff writer, Christopher M. Osborne, PhD. Christopher Osborne has been a wikiHow Content Creator since 2015. He is also a historian who holds a PhD from The University of Notre Dame and has taught at universities in and around Pittsburgh, PA. His scholarly publications and presentations focus on his research interests in early American history, but Chris also enjoys the challenges and rewards of writing wikiHow articles on a wide range of subjects. This article has been viewed 158,551 times.
7 votes - 100%
Co-authors: 8
Updated: May 6, 2021
Views: 158,551
Categories: Herbs and Spices
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