Good morning everyone! Today I wanted to write about one of my favorite backyard edibles called Lamb's-quarters, Chenopodium album. This plant is often referred to as wild spinach or wild quinoa because of its similar flavor and high nutritional content. The leaves and shoots can be gathered in late spring and summer, while the seeds can be gathered in late fall and winter.
The easiest way to identify the plant when it's young is the waxy coating you will see on new growth and newer leaves. The younger leaves will be somewhat arrowhead shaped and jagged, and as the plant grows taller the leaves will become long and slender. The branches will stay green and often have vertical red stripes especially near the nodes or throughout. The flowers will be small and green, and seeds are tiny and black.
Many people suggest boiling the greens and eating them much the same way you would collards or other types of greens. We just eat the shoots and leaves fresh in salads or wraps. You can also store the seeds and make them into a breakfast cereal or grind them into a flour.
The nutritional profile makes it more intriguing as it contains high amounts of protein, fiber, vitamin A, vitamin C, Riboflavin, vitamin B6, calcium, potassium, and manganese. The plant even contains some omega 3 and 6 fatty acids! It's free, abundant, and incredibly good for you. If you think you can find some lamb's-quarters in your backyard give it a chance, but make sure to positively identify it! If you have any questions about the plant I will do my best to answer.
