Fat hen!

We seem to be constantly 'weeding' at the moment. Someone told me once that a 'weed' is a plant growing in a place you don't want it to grow. I have a number of potato plants that fit that description which keep popping up in the leeks and onions. I struggle with the word 'weed' (at least, insofar as it is used in a negative manner) for that very reason...

When we 'weed' I am always on the look out for edibles. It might be growing in an unhelpful place, but that doesn't stop some plants being delicious - including fat hen (also called lamb's quarters).

Scientific name: Chenopodium album

When to see: April - October

Grows: seemingly everywhere. Parks, waste ground, hedgerows, roadsides, my allotment...

Height: up to about 50cm

How to identify: The leaves are distinctive in shape with a silvery sheen - if you look closely these are wax-like crystals that repel water. Further identification help from Wild Food UK

Lookalikes: It has a few lookalikes:

• Good King Henry (Chenopodium bonus-henricus)
• Goosefoot (Chenopodium rubrum)

Both edible.

Also, check against black nightshade (Solanum nigrum), which is poisonous. The leaves of the toxic black nightshade do look rather like those of fat hen. The flowers are however, very different, with those of the black nightshade being like a white version of tomato or potato flowers.

Ecosystem facts: The seeds are popular food for birds such as Yellowhammer, Greenfinch and Linnet

Parts used for food:  Leaves, flowers, seeds.

Nutrition: Rich in protein, vitamins A, B1, B2 and C, and niacin, calcium, phosphorus, iron, and omega 3 fatty acids

Cautions: If collecting from farmland, check pesticides haven't been sprayed. Potentially toxic if eaten in excess. Check for toxic lookalikes.

Herbal medicine uses: Robin Harford includes some medicinal properties here and Plants for a Future.

How to eat:

• The unopened flower buds are a bit like broccoli. Cook and eat as you would broccoli.
• The seeds are edible and are like quinoa but the outer shell can be bitter.
• Young leaves (just a few) and flowers can be thrown into a salad.
• Cook the leaves as you would spinach. You can then use them in tarts, quiches etc, curries (e.g. Sag Aloo or a chickpea, tomato and spinach curry), mushroom and fat hen risotto etc.)
• Fat hen pesto bake from Robin Harford
• Fat hen and chickweed pesto from Tin and Thyme

(Photo courtesy my dad because I keep eating the fat hen on our allotment before I can photograph it)