Sorrel is a leafy green plant, use alternately as an herb and a vegetable, with a distinctive sour, lemony flavor. It’s from the knotweed family, or Polygonaceae, the same botanical family as buckwheat and rhubarb. It also goes by the name “dock.”
Is sorrel a herb or a spice?
A member of the knotweed family, along with buckwheat and rhubarb, common sorrel is a perennial herb that can be identified visually by the following features: 1. Long, arrow-shaped leaves.
What family is sorrel in?
sorrel, any of several hardy perennial herbs of the buckwheat family (Polygonaceae) that are widely distributed in temperate regions and cultivated for their edible leaves.
What is sorrel used for in cooking?
Cooking with sorrel is popular in Eastern Europe where it is used in soups, stewed with vegetables, or added to meat or egg dishes. The Greeks add it to spanakopita, a phyllo pastry stuffed with spinach, leeks, and feta cheese. In Albania, sorrel leaves are simmered, marinated in olive oil, and used to fill byrek pies.
What herb is similar to sorrel?
Alternatives. Try endive, spinach or rocket.
Does sorrel raise blood pressure?
It’s full of minerals like calcium, magnesium, potassium, and zinc. It also has key B-vitamins like niacin and folic acid, and can lower blood pressure. Sorrel is a known anti-inflammatory: The ascorbic acid and other compounds in sorrel make it a potent anti-inflammatory and antibacterial drink.
What’s another name for sorrel?
Sorrel (Rumex acetosa), also called common sorrel or garden sorrel, is a perennial herbaceous plant in the family Polygonaceae. Other names for sorrel include spinach dock and narrow-leaved dock (‘dock’ is a common name for the genus Rumex).
What does sorrel taste like?
Despite its dull color when cooked, sorrel does taste bright and exuberant. No other vegetable at this time of year has such power, or complexity. Sorrel is fruity like rhubarb. It is tart like lemon.
What is a sorrel in English?
sorrel in American English
(ˈsɔrəl, ˈsɑr-) noun. any of various plants belonging to the genus Rumex, of the buckwheat family, having edible acid leaves used in salads, sauces, etc. any of various sour-juiced plants of the genus Oxalis.
Is sorrel same as hibiscus?
West Indians call hibiscus sorrel or sorrel, Africans call the plant Roselle, and it’s known as hibiscus in other locales. It’s the exact same plant, Hibiscus sabdariffa, an edible species of hibiscus. Agua de Jamaica literally translates into the term Jamaica water.
Is sorrel good for kidneys?
In larger doses, sorrel can cause damage to the kidneys, liver, and digestive organs. Sorrel is POSSIBLY UNSAFE when taken in large amounts, since it might increase the risk of developing kidney stones.
What does sorrel pair with?
Sorrel is classically paired with cream, sour cream, or yogurt. This adds a vibrant green color and tartness to these plain items as their fatty creaminess tames the sharp flavor of the sorrel. Sorrel is also a great addition to other cooked greens.
Is it safe to eat sorrel?
You can also use raw sorrel leaves like you would an herb: chopped up and added to legumes or eggs, or as an addition to yogurt or sour cream as a refreshing, lemony dip. Cooking reduces sorrel’s oxalic acid content, and it also makes the leaves soft and rich and delicious, like really good spinach.
Where does sorrel come from?
Sorrel grows in grassland habitats all over Europe and in parts of Central Asia, though its history goes back as far as 1700 with mentions of the sour herb in Jamaican literature. The plant grows in three varieties: French, red-veined, and broad leaf, all of which have relatively different appearances.
Why is my sorrel bitter?
Oxalic acid is responsible for giving red veined sorrel a bitter lemon flavor and in large quantities can cause mineral deficiencies, specifically calcium. Oxalic acid is minimized when cooked. It is suggested that people with pre-existing conditions avoid ingesting.
What does red sorrel taste like?
Red sorrel offers a distinct, bright, sour flavor with grassy undertones and tangy notes similar to lemon or sour apple.
Does sorrel make you poop?
Plants (like sorrel) are high in dietary fiber. Fiber keeps your digestive tract on track and your poops regular. It can also help to lower your risk of chronic illnesses like heart disease, diabetes, obesity, hypertension, and some gastrointestinal problems.
Is sorrel good for sleep?
Sorrel leaves are used to treat insomnia and hypertension (9).
Is sorrel a laxative?
Sorrel (Hibiscus sabdariffa) is used in many parts of the world to treat a number of ailments, including as a diuretic, a sedative, a tonic, a laxative, to lower blood pressure, to stimulate the production of bile by the liver, to relieve coughs; while the leaves are made into a poultice to relieve boils and abscesses.
Where do you find sorrel?
Common sorrel leaves are great for salads, puddings, soups or stews. The name ‘common’ really does describe this plant and we can usually find it in any grass type environment at any time of year save a very harsh winter or a drought over summer.
What plant is sorrel made from?
hibiscus sabdariffa flower
In the Caribbean, the popular terms are hibiscus or sorrel, as it is made from the hibiscus sabdariffa flower. The plant is native to India, but can grow as an annual in all climates. The fleshy, red calyxes that surround the base of the flowers are what we brew to make sorrel, the drink.
Justin Shelton is a professional cook. He’s been in the industry for over 10 years, and he loves nothing more than creating delicious dishes for others to enjoy. Justin has worked in some of the best kitchens in the country, and he’s always looking for new challenges and ways to improve his craft. When he’s not cooking, Justin enjoys spending time with his wife and son. He loves exploring new restaurants and trying out different cuisines.