Over the weekend we had some technical difficulties which means that Valya’s video series has been delayed. We hope to have the first video posted on Thursday.

We are currently enjoying lamsquarters in our green smoothies, so we wanted to share with you some useful recipes and information about this common edible weed.

What is Lambsquarters?

Lambsquarters is a wild edible weed perfect for green smoothies and packed with nutrition. It is also called wild spinach, pigweed or goosefoot depending on where you are located. It has a mild, chlorophyll flavor like our domestic  greens.  Lamsquarters is a relative of swiss chard, beets and a few exotic garden greens like orach, all in the chenopodium family.

You can find lamsquarters all over America and in many different habitats from rich farm soils to empty lots in desert towns. It tends to grow in  disturbed soils, close to humans rather than in remote places. Its highly likely  that you will find some in your garden.  Not only does it grow everywhere but it has a very long edible season. It gets to  be a good eating size around June, being a late spring arrival, and its tender leaves are available for the rest of the growing  season.

I cant find Lambsquarters, where can I get some?

Any farmer is familiar with lambsquarters. Farmers who grow animals use it for feed and farmers who grow vegetables weed them out. Lambsquarters are not yet popular in health food stores, but you can buy bunches of these greens at many farmer’s markets. If your local farmer doesn’t see it, you could ask him to bring you some.  I’m sure he would be happy to make a profit from a ‘weed’. Another option is to grow your own, you can purchase Lamsquarters seeds at Seeds of Change.

Nutritional Information

Lamsquarters is one of the highest natural forms of nutrition, it is right up there with dandelion, watercress, and stinging nettles.  It is a huge source of vitamin A and K.

For more nutritional data visit NutritionData

Genesis 1:29  And God said, “See, I have given you every herb that yields seed which is on the face of all the earth, and every tree whose fruit yields seed; to you it shall be for food.  Also, to every beast of the earth, to every bird of the air, and to everything that creeps on the earth, in which there is life, I have given every green herb for food”; and it was so.

Lamsquarter Recipes

Rose Barlow, on her web site Prodigal Gardens says that “Lambsquarters can be used in any recipe that calls for spinach. It is endlessly versatile in the kitchen and can be included in all kinds of dips, dressings, sauces, soups, salads, and main dishes. It is one of the finest spinach substitutes; no one would ever know the difference if you didn’t tell them, so it’s a good one for sneaking into a skeptical husband’s dinner!”

Lamsquarters & Tomato Salad
This delicious salad has unique taste and is
only available in the summer.

Blend well:
4 cups lambsquarters
2 cups cherry tomatoes, cut in half
½ bunch dill weed, chopped
I lemon juiced
1 avocado, mashed
Add sea salt if desired
Serves: 2-3

Lamsquarters & Peach Green Smoothie
The most nutritious and tasty!

Blend well:
2 cups lambsquarters
2 cups fresh peaches halves
3 cups water
Yields: 1quart of smoothie

Lamsqurter Combination for Green Smoothies
It is beneficial for the environment to eat the produce that is locally in season. As Lamsquarters grows in Spring, we enjoy making smoothies pears and apples and strawberries.