Dandelion Greens with Crispy Fried Onions and Lemon Recipe
Dandelion Greens with Fried Onions is a flavorful and nutritious dish featuring tender cooked dandelion greens tossed with lemon juice, olive oil, and topped with crispy fried onions. This traditional and comforting recipe is perfect as a side dish or light meal, especially when served with warm Arabic-style pita bread.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 50 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Side Dish
- Method: Frying and Boiling
- Cuisine: Middle Eastern
Ingredients
Scale
Dandelion Greens
- 4 bunches dandelions
- ½ cup + 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 lemon, juiced
- ½ teaspoon salt
Fried Onions
- 2 large yellow onions, thinly sliced
Serving
- Arabic style pita for serving
Instructions
- Boil the Dandelions: Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Submerge the dandelion greens in the boiling water and bring it back to a boil. Reduce the heat to medium and simmer for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally to ensure even cooking.
- Fry the Onions: While the dandelions cook, prepare for frying. Line a plate with two layers of paper towels to absorb excess oil. Heat ¼ cup of olive oil in a large pot over high heat. Add the thinly sliced onions and cook them, stirring constantly for about 20 minutes, until they become deeply browned and crispy around the edges. Transfer the onions to the paper towel-lined plate to drain and continue crisping as they cool.
- Drain and Prepare Dandelions: Once cooked, remove the dandelions from the boiling water and rinse under cold water to cool. Squeeze handfuls of the dandelions tightly to remove excess water and repeat until as dry as possible.
- Chop and Toss Greens: Transfer the drained dandelion greens to a cutting board and cut into bite-sized pieces. Place them on a serving dish, add the lemon juice, salt, and the remaining 2 tablespoons of olive oil. Use a fork to fluff and gently toss to combine all flavors evenly.
- Assemble and Serve: Spoon the crispy fried onions generously over the dressed dandelion greens. Serve warm or cold alongside warm Arabic-style pita bread for a satisfying and wholesome dish.
Notes
- Pressing the cooked dandelions to remove excess water is key to preventing the dish from becoming soggy.
- The fried onions can be made ahead and stored in an airtight container for a few days, providing a great crunchy topping for various dishes.
- If dandelions are unavailable, you can substitute with other bitter greens like mustard greens or chicory, but the flavor will differ.
- Adjust lemon juice and salt according to taste preference.
- Use high-quality olive oil for the best flavor and health benefits.
Keywords: dandelion greens, fried onions, Middle Eastern salad, vegetarian side dish, healthy greens, lemon and olive oil salad
