Are you also eating Magnolia flowers this Spring?

Ever seen a flower so pretty you wanted to have it in your dish? The beautifully constructed weeknight dinners and sweet desserts can now also benefit from the inspiration that comes from a bloom: Magnolia flowers!

As seen on social media since the start of spring, Magnolia flower petals are being used widely in dishes. Included in dishes such as grilled vegetable plates, to decorated desserts, and even cozy bakes, these flowers give dishes made at home a perfect spring kick. The taste will be a bit gingery with an almost crispy texture, and can be used in almost anything.

Inspiration for Magnolia flowers in food

Magnolia flower petals are extremely versatile. The most common use at first glance might be to have the petals in a fresh salad and toss it all together with all the salad ingredients, especially with a tangy salad dressing. 

There are, of course, more ways to use Magnolia petals in food. The next level of inspiration comes from treating it exactly like ginger and pickling the petals to use wherever one needs a pickled-kick. Simply swap pickled ginger with pickled Magnolia petals. 

Magnolia petals are also great in desserts, most importantly after they have been used in a syrup. The flowery kick in syrup not only gives it a fragrant aspect, but also provides the syrup bathed petals to decorate the dessert. The sugary petals can be used for tart bases, cake coverings, or even pudding layers. 

And the last, and also one of the most obvious uses for Magnolia petals is in drinks. They can be brewed as tea for any calming herbal tea enjoyer, or for a fresh spring/summer beverage, Magnolia petals can be just as great in a cocktail. Again, either as pickled in a savory cocktail, or as an extra layer of floral sweetness in a sweet cocktail. 

Photo by Marina Reich via Unsplash