Homemade Candied Violets Recipe (2024)

FAQs

How to candy violets without egg? ›

To make egg-free or vegan candied violets use lightly beaten aquafaba, which is the cooking liquid leftover from cooking chickpeas or in canned chickpeas. Aquafaba has similar properties to egg whites and works just as well as them in this recipe.

To prepare, fill a Mason jar to the top with violets. Once filled, pour vodka over the flowers until they are submerged. Put a lid on the jar and shake daily for several days, up to one week. Strain and store in amber glass dropper bottle in a dark place.

Drying violets is super easy! Wash them using the method above, and then lay them on a towel over a drying rack and set them in a dry place for 4-7 days. Once they are fully dry, place them in an airtight container, like these cute jelly jars, and store in a dark cupboard.

Violet's Edible Uses

They will often make a comeback in the fall, with a flush of tender new growth. Violet leaves can be sautéed or steamed. I also like to stir them into soups as a nutrient-dense thickener. The flowers make a lovely garnish—we sprinkle them on salads and add them to cakes and pancakes.

It is the calcium from the egg shell that leaches into the water and puts African Violets in a blooming good mood."

One of the standout features of wild violets is their medicinal applications, particularly the wild violet tincture benefits. This tincture is celebrated for its anti-inflammatory properties and its ability to treat respiratory conditions, showcasing the health benefits these plants offer beyond their aesthetic appeal.

Stir in borax until dissolved. Suspend flower in solution so it doesn't touch any of the sides or the bottom of the container. Allow flower to soak until desired crystal thickness has occurred (minimum of two hours, maximum of 24. Remove flower from borax solution and allow to dry.

What part of violets are edible? ›

Beginning foragers should only harvest the flowers of the violet. Leaves are edible but because the leaves are easily confused with other non-edible plants it is important to stick with the sure bet if you are unfamiliar with violets and their look-alikes.

Wild Violets are not poisonous to dogs – or people!

Yes, Violets Are Edible

As with many of our spring herbs, she arrives right when needed. Violets are found all over North America. This perennial herb loves to grow in hedgerows, fields, gardens, and woodland edges.

They should be kept in moist enough conditions that they don't dry out, yet still exposed to a fresh breeze to avoid letting them get too stuffy, and exposed to sunlight without damaging their leaf tips. Don't be discouraged if your African violets suffer some damage—it's all part of the process.

Select a firm, healthy leaf and cut it off with a sharp knife. Leave 1 to 1½ inches of the leaf stem (petiole) attached to the leaf blade. Fill a pot with a moistened 50:50 mix of vermiculite and coarse sand. Insert the petiole of each leaf cutting into the rooting medium at a 45 degree angle.