Nasturtium Vinegar

There is no easier recipe than that of Nasturtium vinegar. I absolutely adore nasturtium because it’s completely edible from head to toe. It’s my favorite plant and I adore finding new ways to use it.

There was magic found the day I realized that you can eat flowers – well, some of them at least. Truly, it felt like the most indulgent secret of the world. I have been completely enamored with that idea since then.

Part of why I love nasturtium, in particular, is the way that the flowers vary so much in color, and the leaf shape is so uniquely round with a little starburst in the center. They have the ability to climb and drop over raised bed edges but can clump as well. I just adore them.

Nasturtium Health Benefits

Nasturtium contains many health benefits, the primary being giving you vitamin C, beta carotene, and flavonoids. They are anti-inflammatory and moisturizing.

You can eat the seeds (capers recipe HERE), flowers (cheese-stuffed nasturtium HERE), and leaves (nasturtium pesto HERE) of the plant, which is additionally incredible!

Now, we’re adding in a vinegar recipe which is great for making dressings!

Nasturtium Vinegar Recipe

INGREDIENTS

• A handful of nasturtium flowers (about 1 cup)
• Enough vinegar to fill your jar (you can use white vinegar or apple cider vinegar)
• Garlic, spices, pepper (optional)

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Gather your flowers and inspect them to be sure there aren’t any pests or brown spots. I don’t even rinse my flowers typically since they’re not touched by any chemicals (and dirt is no biggie).
2. Place into a mason jar, filling the jar but allowing some room for liquid.
3. Pour vinegar into jar, fully covering all flowers. You can add some garlic or spices if you want to, but I like to keep some plain.
4. Let sit for anywhere from one to four weeks, and when ready (to your liking), strain the liquid into a new jar, discarding your flowers.
5. Enjoy with olive oil, lemon, and some shallot for a great salad dressing or as a fantastic finisher for pork and chicken dishes.

This little boost of healthful vinegar is something that just delights me, and makes dinner extra fun. I hope you try it!