This vibrant, seasonal Garden Pansy Salad recipe features edible flowers, crisp greens, and a simple vinaigrette. It’s perfect for a light lunch or an elegant appetizer for Spring! Be sure to use organic or home-grown pansies for this recipe.
Fun fact – I was in a sorority in college, Kappa Alpha Theta, and the pansy was our official flower. I remember that Lilly Pulitzer was super in-trend for us sorority girls back in the day. The brand actually came out with sorority prints for various products, and I (of course) had to get the Theta bag. It was yellow and blue with a pretty pansy design, and I felt so cool carrying it around. Even though I didn’t have the ideal experience in my sorority, I still love pansies! And I’m lucky to have kept in touch with my little and my little kite (the kite was another one of our symbols).
Pansies are so gorgeous to add to a salad because they come in so many beautiful colors. In this salad I used white and purple pansies, but you can use any colors you like (except yellow – some people have reported stomach upset with those)! Just be sure to source your pansies from organic, pesticide-free gardens for food safety. And always remember to confirm that you’re eating the flower you think you’re eating (and not an inedible one).
If you love gorgeous, floral spring recipes, you’ll also love this Nasturtium Tangerine Spritz , this Chive Blossom Vinegar, and this Flower Garden Salad!
Garden Pansy Salad
Ingredients
The Salad
- 1 Orange
- 1 Head Pink Radicchio or purple
- 4 Cups Purple Kale packed
- 1/3 Cup Chopped Parsley
- 1/2 Cup Goat Cheese
- 6-8 Pansy Flowers
Vinaigrette
- 1/4 Cup Extra Virgin Olive Oil
- 2 Tbsp Red Wine Vinegar
- 1 Tsp Honey
- 1/2 Tsp Salt
- Black Pepper to taste
Instructions
- To begin, supreme the orange. Slice off the top and bottom of the fruit, creating flat surfaces for stability. Next, carefully run your knife down the side of the fruit, following its curve, removing strips of the peel from top to bottom.
- Then, carefully cut segments of the orange away from the pith by cutting into the fruit on both sides of each segment. It's okay if some slices don't come out whole, it'll still taste delicious!
- Then, wash and dry your raddichio, kale, and parsley. Chop each into bite-sized pieces.
- Also wash your pansy flowers well, and dry completely. Be sure to source organic pansies and/or pansies that have not been treated with pesticides!
- To create the salad, layer the radicchio and kale on the bottom. Add on the orange slices, then tear the goat cheese into roughly bite-sized pieces with your hands. Sprinkle over the parsley, and layer on the pansy flowers.
- To make the vinaigrette, add all ingredients to a bowl and whisk together vigorously. Taste, and adjust seasoning to your liking. Drizzle the dressing over the salad – use as much or as little as you'd like.
- Serve, and enjoy!
Nutrition
Garden Pansy Salad FAQs
Can you eat pansies in a salad?
Absolutely! Pansy flowers are edible, and can be a unique and delicious addition to salads. Just make sure the pansies you use have NOT been treated with pesticides.
Are pansies healthy to eat?
Pansies actually do offer some health benefits! They are a good source of antioxidants, like vitamin C, and have anti-inflammatory properties. They also contain vitamins like A and E as well.
What do pansies taste like?
Pansies have a mild, slightly sweet, and sometimes grassy flavor, similar to baby lettuce. Some varieties might have a very faint hint of wintergreen or even a bubblegum-like note. I recommend smelling and/or tasting a petal before using a large quantity of them.
Are violets and pansies the same thing?
Violets and Pansies both belong to the same plant genus viola. Pansies are a specific group of hybrids within the viola genus cultivated for their larger, showier flowers with overlapping petals. The common garden pansy is a hybrid of viola tricolor (Johnny Jump Up) and other viola species. When you see those big, colorful “faces” in the garden center (like in Alice in Wonderland), you’re most likely looking at pansies. The smaller, similar-looking flowers are usually violets. All members of the genus viola have five-petaled flowers, but violets have two petals pointing up and three down, while pansies have four petals pointing up and one pointing down.
Are all violets and pansies edible?
Most violets and pansies are edible, including the purple, blue, white, and multicolored varieties. However, you should avoid yellow varieties of violets because they can cause digestive upset for some people. Also, note that African violets are not botanically violets and so are not edible. When foraging, it’s crucial to be certain of the identification of the plant for food safety.
Can you cook pansies?
Yes, you can cook with pansies in a variety of ways! However, since they’re so delicate, they’re often used as a garnish. Some ideas of things you can cook with pansies include:
- Candied pansies: use them as beautiful decorations for cakes and desserts.
- Infusions: you can infuse them into simple syrup for cocktails, or dry them then steep them in tea!
- Baked into goods: pansies can be pressed onto cookies as a beautiful garnish.
- Added to savory dishes: this is less common, but they can be added to things like omelets or used as a final garnish on soups or salads!
P.S.
For more plant-forward recipes, dinner parties, and New England lifestyle inspiration, be sure to follow along on Pinterest, Instagram, and TikTok! If you make a recipe, please tag me in the photo and use the hashtag #wellandfull so I can see! I love seeing your creations!
Leave a Reply