Sorrel is an herb with either shield-shaped or rounded leaves and other names for it are spinach dock or sour grass. It’s loved for its bright, acidic flavor that comes from oxalic acid, the same ingredient that gives rhubarb its exquisite bite, which makes sense since the two plants are related.
What spice is sorrel?
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.”
What is the flavor of sorrel?
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 sorrel made from?
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.
What can I substitute for sorrel?
In conclusion, the three best substitutes for sorrel are arugula, mustard greens, and rhubarb. What is this? Each leafy greens can provide a sour flavor similar to sorrel while offering other nutritional benefits.
What does sorrel do to the body?
Sorrel is a great source of antioxidants, which are beneficial compounds that protect your cells from damage by neutralizing harmful free radicals. Antioxidants may help prevent many chronic conditions, including heart disease, cancer, and type 2 diabetes ( 6 ).
What are the side effects of sorrel?
Wood sorrel is UNSAFE, especially when used when used in higher doses. Wood sorrel can cause diarrhea, nausea, increased urination, skin reactions, stomach and intestine irritation, eye damage, and kidney damage. Swelling of the mouth, tongue, and throat can make speaking and breathing difficult.
Does sorrel taste like spinach?
Spinach and Sorrel are two different leaves even though they are from the same plant family and have similar appearances. Raw sorrel leaves have a sour and acidic taste while raw spinach leaves have a sweet and mild flavor.
What kind of vegetable is sorrel?
Sorrel is a small edible green plant from the Polygonaceae family, which also includes buckwheat and rhubarb. The French translation of sour (“sorrel”) is spot-on: These leaves have an intense lemony tang. In Vietnamese cuisine, sorrel leaves are known as rau thom (fresh herb), and it’s called gowkemeat in Scotland.
Why does sorrel taste sour?
Sorrel is a very tangy, acidic herb. Its sour taste comes from oxalic acid, which also gives rhubarb its tartness. This fresh, lemony sourness has been highly prized in cuisines all over the world.
Is sorrel and Jamaica the same thing?
Note that the “sorrel” here is a Caribbean name for hibiscus flowers, also called jamaica in Spanish. When shopping, make sure you are getting that rather than the green herb called sorrel that tastes tartly of lemon.
What is another name for sorrel in Jamaica?
Hibiscus sabdariffa
Hibiscus sabdariffa also known as Roselle and Jamaican Sorrel is not indigenous to Jamaica. In fact, it is found all around the world. It is a species of hibiscus that includes okra hollyhock and Rose of Sharon among other species.
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.
What does red sorrel taste like?
Sorrel leaves have a tangy taste, with hints of citrus. They may be harvested as a baby leaf and used in salads, but can also be harvested when mature and cooked like spinach. Sorrel works well as an accompaniment to fish, meat and egg dishes, and as an ingredient in soup and gratins.
Is sorrel high in oxalates?
Sorrel sprouts contain high levels of oxalates but these are only added as a garnish to foods and not eaten in large amounts. As sorrel is a high oxalate-containing food, it should only be consumed in small amounts especially by people who are prone to kidney-stone formation [29].
What is dried sorrel?
Sorrel drink is a festive beverage in Jamaica that is consumed mainly during the Christmas time along with the Jamaican fruit cake. However, while this fascinating perennial herb is cultivated all over the world for a wide variety of purposes, in Jamaica, sorrel is primarily used as a beverage.
Can sorrel raise your blood pressure?
Sorrel has antihypertensive properties that help to lower blood pressure. A research done at a university in Boston found that persons who drink a cup of sorrel daily saw a significant reduction in their blood pressure level in 30 days.
Does sorrel help you lose weight?
A 1-cup serving of fresh sorrel provides about 4 grams of fiber, which helps maintain regular bowel movements. Dietary fiber also helps to regulate cholesterol levels and blood sugar. 7 In addition, fiber-rich foods are satiating to keep you fuller longer, leading to weight loss and/or promoting weight management.
Is sorrel a laxative?
The fresh or dried leaves are considered astringent, diuretic (increasing urination), laxative (softening the bowel), and cooling. Juice of the leaf has also been applied topically for the treatment of itchy skin and for treatment of ringworm.
Is sorrel toxic to humans?
Red sorrel is considered safe for human consumption as a fresh herb or when boiled, but there is potential for poisoning of livestock. Species of Rumex owe their toxicity to soluble oxalates.
Is sorrel good for your blood?
Sorrel is no slouch in the nutritional department either. 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.