11 Things You Didn’t Know Were Foods 

Food is one of the greatest pleasures in life. Food daily calms many of our worries, fears, and comforts. But did you know that there are plenty of things you might encounter every day that are also foods? Things like specific flowers, pollen, dirt, and even a type of paper are all edible and make for great-tasting foods. In this article, we’re diving into some surprising food items that might even intrigue you enough to give them a try. Some of these have been around for centuries, while others are more recently discovered gems, but all of them are foods that you can eat right at home. Ready to learn more about the foods you didn’t know were foods? Get ready to get hungry because we’re coming in for landing!

1. Pumpkin Flowers

Pumpkin flowers are a delightful thing to eat. They are popular in Bengali and Southern Indian cuisine. They can be eaten raw, stuffed, or fried, and in some recipes, they can be used to swap with zucchini. Pumpkin flowers are a popular soup ingredient as they have a lovely, mild pumpkin flavour. 

How to Eat Pumpkin Flowers

• Stuffed: Stuff the pumpkin flowers with cheeses and sauteed vegetables, then lightly batter them and fry. They turn out to be a crispy, delicious delight!
• Grilled: Brush the pumpkin flowers with olive oil, salt, and pepper and grill for just a couple minutes.
• Soups: Add a few flowers to your soup broth for a delicate pumpkin flair.

2. Bee Pollen

Bee pollen, if you don’t have an allergy, is generally considered safe to eat. Not only is it considered safe to eat, but it also contains an exceptionally high number of essential nutrients and vitamins that your body needs. Bee pollen can be added to yoghurt, smoothies, oatmeal, granola bars, or even grinded down to be a part of your supplement powder or put into a capsule form.

3. Watermelon Rind

Watermelon rind is typically tossed out after the juicy watermelon deliciousness is eaten, but it’’s actually something that can also be eaten. The watermelon rind is nutritious, versatile, and lower in sugar and higher in fibre than the juicy part of the fruit. You can pickle watermelon rind, juice it, add it to smoothies, put it in stir-fry, and more. Watermelon rind is high in vitamin A, vitamin C, potassium, magnesium, and fibre.

4. Banana Skin

Banana skin is a surprising item you can eat. The peel is a fantastic source of vitamins B6 and B12, as well as magnesium, potassium, fibre, and protein. The peel supports digestive health, stabilises blood sugar levels, boosts heart health, and more. To eat the peel, you can add it to your smoothies, the baking of banana bread, eat them boiled, or fry them to resemble bacon.

5. Rice Paper

Rice paper is a Vietnamese cooking ingredient made from white rice flour, tapioca flour, salt, and water. They’re a thin, translucent paper and can be used to make a variety of dishes. A few of these dishes are spring rolls, dumplings, sushi, and vegan bacon. 

6. Dandelion Greens

Dandelion greens are not only safe to eat, but they’re also packed with numerous health benefits. They’re exceptionally high in vitamin K, iron, and calcium. Dandelion greens have a spicy, bitter taste and are a pleasant addition to salads, sandwiches, and omelettes. 

7. Cacao pulp

Cacao pulp is the white, fleshy, and sticky stuff that encompasses the cacao beans. The flavour is complex and can be anything from sweet to citrussy and everything in between. Cacao pulp is high in vitamins E, D, and B, as well as magnesium. 

How to Eat Cacao Pulp:

• Eat it raw.
• Use it in drinks.
• Add it to chocolate as a natural sweetness.
• Use it for networking.

8. Fennel Pollen

Fennell pollen makes for a versatile spice. It’s flavourful and perfect for sweet and savoury dishes. You can sprinkle it over salads, top roasted vegetables with it, season fish and seafood with it, and much more. Fennel pollen is slightly sweet and has gentle hints of liquorice and anise.

9. Cactus Pads

Cactus pads, also known as nopales, offer a nutritious flair to your diet. They have a lemony flavour and can be eaten raw or cooked. They have many anti-inflammatory properties and can be eaten in salads, smoothies, tacos, and scrambled eggs. In addition, you can grill them, stuff them with cheese and onion, pickle them, and more. 

10. Kudzu

Kudzu is a perennial woody vine that is high in calcium, iron, vitamins C and K, as well as magnesium. The root of the vegetable can be eaten like any other root vegetable. The leaves can be eaten raw, cooked as a green, or made into green chips. The shoots can be easily snapped off, cleaned, and cooked like green beans or asparagus. Finally, the purple flowers can be made into jelly, syrup, or candy. 

11. Coconut Meat

Coconut meat is the white inside part of the coconut. It’s rich in fibre and highly nutritious. Coconut meat is high in healthy fats, supports heart health, and is rich in minerals. Coconut meat can be eaten raw and has a sweet, nutty, chewy texture and taste. Further, it can be added to smoothies for a wonderful, creamy flair. Coconut meat can be added to baked goods, in salads, made into yoghurt or pudding, and added to curries and soups.

Final Thoughts

As you can see, there are plenty of “foods” that you probably didn’t even know were foods. From delicate pumpkin flowers to banana skin, rice paper, and dandelion greens, there are so many foods that are edible and surprising at the same time. These unique ingredients not only expand our culinary horizons but also encourage us to be more adventurous in our cooking. Exploring these lesser-known foods can lead to delightful new flavours and textures, enriching our dining experiences in unexpected ways.