In the Aegean, poppy greens are valued not only for their flowers but also for their leaves before flowering. At the end of winter, the ground-hugging rosettes are gathered from field edges and cooked with onion, a little rice, and olive oil. The leaves are briefly boiled first to soften their hairs and reduce their mild bitterness. Serve the dish warm with lemon.
Cut off the root ends of the rosettes and discard yellowed leaves or any that have rotted from touching the soil. Wash the leaves three times in plenty of water, until no soil remains at the bottom of the bowl.
Add the leaves to boiling water and boil for 3 minutes. Drain and rinse with cold water. Squeeze out the water by hand and coarsely chop.
Saute the finely chopped onion in olive oil over low heat for 7–8 minutes, until translucent and soft.
Add the rinsed and drained rice and stir for 2 minutes, until the grains glisten with oil.
Add the poppy greens, hot water, salt, and red pepper flakes. Cover and cook over low heat for 15–18 minutes, until the rice is tender and the liquid has been absorbed.
Transfer the warm dish to a plate and squeeze lemon over the top.
Gather common poppy (Papaver rhoeas) only before the flower stalk emerges, while it is still a ground-level rosette. Its leaves are hairy, gray-green, and deeply lobed, and release white sap when snapped. Poisonous buttercup (Ranunculus) rosettes have shiny, palm-shaped leaves and do not release sap. Do not gather plants by roadsides or from treated fields; never gather plants you cannot identify. Let the cooked dish cool in the pot before serving.
Gelinciği çiçeklenmeden toplamak gerekiyor, çiçek açmış olanlar sert ve acı. Rozet hâlindeki genç yapraklar yerden bir karış yükselmeden toplanıyor, bizim tarlada mart sonu bir hafta pencere açılıyor ve kaçırınca yıl bitiyor.
Pirinci ota katmadan önce soğanda çevirdim, tane tane kaldı.
Pirinci çevirmek doğru. Yağı emen tane pişerken birbirine yapışmıyor, otun suyunu da ölçülü çekiyor.
Recipes tried by those who liked this one, fitting the same table.
Suggestions, complaints or questions — we read them all.
Your message has been saved. Our team will read it; if you left an email address, we will reply there when needed.
