April and May are the peak blooming seasons for locust flowers. With their vibrant appearance and pleasant fragrance, the key is that they are edible and taste sweet, making them hard not to love!So, how nutritious are these delicious and fragrant locust flowers? What are some ways to eat them?What Nutrients are Rich in Locust Flowers?
Image Source: AI Generated
01Carbohydrates
Locust flowers are rich in carbohydrates, containing 17g/100g, which is similar to potatoes, so we can treat locust flowers as half a staple food in our daily diet.
Locust flowers have a high content of soluble sugars, making them taste very sweet.The content of soluble sugars from high to low is: locust flowers > small locust seeds > medium locust seeds > large locust seeds (large locust seeds are 1.6~2.0 cm long, medium locust seeds are 1.2~1.6 cm long, and small locust seeds are 0.7~1.2 cm long), the soluble sugar content in locust flowers is significantly higher than that in locust seeds at different developmental stages.
02Dietary Fiber
Locust flowers have a high content of insoluble dietary fiber, approximately 2.2g/100g, which is higher than that of vegetables such as cabbage, amaranth, spinach, shepherd’s purse, and celery, and eating more is beneficial for intestinal health..
03Vitamin C
According to the “Chinese Food Composition Table”, the vitamin C content is 30mg/100g, comparable to oranges, which is ten times that of apples..
Moreover, the vitamin C content in locust flowers is higher than that in locust seeds at different developmental stages, from high to low: locust flowers > large locust seeds > small locust seeds > medium locust seeds.
04Mineral Iron
The iron content in locust flowers reaches 3.6mg/100g, which is 1.2 times that of spinach.
05Flavonoids
Locust flowers contain a large number of flavonoids, such as rutin, quercetin, and kaempferol, which have antioxidant properties..
Among them, rutin can regulate capillary permeability and fragility, improve microcirculation, and is also beneficial for blood pressure control; the content of rutin in locust flowers is lower than that in locust seeds at different stages.
Can All Flowers Called “Locust Flowers” Be Eaten?
There are two types of locust flowers: black locust flowers (Robinia pseudoacacia) and Chinese locust flowers, of which the black locust flowers can be directly consumed or brewed into tea, with a strong fragrance; while the Chinese locust flowers are generally not eaten directly.
What Are Some Recommended Ways to Eat Locust Flowers?01Locust Flower Pancakes
After washing the locust flowers, drain the water, mix with flour and beaten eggs, and add an appropriate amount of water to stir into a batter. Brush oil on a frying pan, pour in the batter, and fry until both sides are golden.
02Locust Flower Dumplings
After washing the locust flowers, drain the water, and mix with pork, scallions, ginger, garlic, and thirteen spices to make dumpling filling.
03Steamed Locust Flowers
After washing the locust flowers, mix with some dry flour, place in a steamer, and steam for a few minutes to eat, fluffy and fragrant.
04Stir-fried Locust Flowers with Eggs
Add the washed locust flowers to beaten eggs, sprinkle a little salt, and stir well. Heat a pan with oil, and once the oil is hot, pour in the mixed egg liquid, stir-fry until cooked, and serve.
Source丨CCTV Finance, compiled fromCCTV News, Science Popularization China, cover image generated by AI