Borage.

Date: Mon, 29 Apr 1996 12:41:18 -0400
To: The Culinary Herbs & Spices List <HERBS.HOME.EASE.LSOFT.COM>
From: Cathleen Kimball <CKimb28370.AOL.COM>
Subject: Re: BORAGE

> Spring is finally here and all my seeds are doing great. Only problem I have is that I have planted Borage and don't remember what to do with it when it grows up. All my herb books are packed away waiting to be moved into our new house so I can't even look it up. Any hints or ideas?

I grew borage for the first time last year and really enjoyed it. I used mostly the flowers although the small leaves can be used in salads (if you can get past the fuzz they taste pretty good).
The flowers can be used to garnish a salad, or fruit dish or even to float in a fruity summer drink.
One other use for the borage flowers is to candy them using beaten egg whites and super fine sugar these will look pretty on a cake or other desert.

From: Sandra Jeppsson <spirosanja.GNN.COM>

> Only problem I have is that I have planted Borage and don't remember what to do with

I have grown borage and then tried to find out what to do with it also. What I found in the books I have is that it has medicinal or therapeutic purposes (like as a mood elevator, etc.) and that it can be used in salads. I tried eating it and found that I really do not like the taste at all. I gave up trying to use it for culinary purposes. But maybe some other people like it. I think that it looks nice with its blue flowers. It is SO EASY to grow (that's a plus)-- it reseeds itself profrusively, and I could not completely eradicate it from my garden even if I wanted to.

From: Barbara Schmidt <SMGIN2.GNN.COM>

Here is a recipe and a little history about borage from my newsletter. Barbara

Borage

In the Roman days, borage was once thought to have great powers. The soldiers would eat it for courage just before going to battle.

Borage grows best in full sun and likes light dry soil. Borage is not frost-hardy so plant seed directly into soil after all danger of frost is past.

Borage has a mild cucumber flavor. Both the leaves and the petals may be used. You can use the flowers to flavor wine also. Try this recipe first. This is very good.

Borage Ranch Dressing

1 cup plain yogurt
2 tablespoons of wine vinegar
½ teaspoon celery seed
¼ cup chopped green onions
1 teaspoon sugar
¼ cup very young borage leaves, finely chopped
salt & pepper to taste

Mix all ingredients in small bowl. Refrigerate for 1 hour before serving. Garnish with petals on salad. Serves 6 to 8.

(Borage leaf contains livertoxic pyrrolizidine alkaloids. Read up on them here: Livertoxic PAs -Henriette)