A couple of weeks ago, I wrote a post bemoaning my crazy weed problem this year…
I posted a few pictures of my garden which is buried under an abnormally thick, healthy, layer of weeds.
Anyway, a bunch of you offered many helpful suggestions in the comments and also by email. (Yes, I definitely plan to use mulch next year, by the way…)
Several of you also mentioned that, judging by this photo, you thought some of my weeds may be Lamb’s Quarters.
I have had a vague notion in the past that that’s what I had growing. They are one of the thickest weeds in my garden, so I’m used to seeing (and pulling) quite a few. However, I’m sad to say that I never really spent the time to research them.
So, at the prompting of a few of my lovely readers, I decided to solve the big question once and for all. I pulled up a couple specimens, brought them in the house, and spent some time looking at photos online.
It didn’t take long to figure out that—without doubt— I do indeed have a healthy crop of Lamb’s Quarters growing in my garden!
I’ve been anxious to get some revenge on my out-of-control weeds this year, so what better way to do that than to eat them?
I quickly announced to my husband that our menu had changed for the night. Instead of steak, pasta, and frozen green beans for supper, we were having steak, pasta, and Lamb’s Quarters.
He was skeptical er, tolerant…
I raced out to the garden while my pasta was boiling and plucked off a colander-full of leaves from the younger, more tender plants.
After bringing them inside and giving them a good wash, I plopped them in a few inches of boiling water, and let them cook until they were a little bit limp and a lovely shade of dark green.
A sprinkle of salt and pepper, and a pat of butter (because everything is better with butter), they were ready to serve.
The consensus? Not bad… Not bad at all!
To be honest, we aren’t real big eaters of plain cooked greens at our house anyway (I usually prefer them raw in salads, or mixed in other dishes), but these were very edible.
They were fairly mild with a nice spinach-y taste. Hubby said he’d eat them again– and that is saying a lot! 
I’m thinking that my lovely crop of Lamb’s Quarters just might replace my spinach in the garden each year. I usually have trouble getting much of a spinach harvest anyway, since the heat always causes it to quickly bolt. Why struggle with spinach when I have a plentiful wild crop that will work just as well?
So, just in case any of you out there are also “fighting” a crop of Lamb’s Quarters, here are some tips and recipe ideas to help you turn that annoying weed into a nutritious member of your homestead garden!
All About Lamb’s Quarter
- Before eating any “weed” from your yard, please be very, very certain that you have identified it correctly. Even if that means going the extra mile to double-check with an expert, PLEASE use caution when foraging from your homestead. Many weeds are delicious. Others can be deadly.
- Be certain that any “weeds” you are consuming have not been sprayed with pesticides.
- Lamb’s Quarters is also known as pigweed, goosefoot, and wild spinach.
- The leaves somewhat resemble a webbed foot (hence the name “goosefoot”) and it usually looks like it is covered in a powdery, white coating.
- During the Great Depression, Lamb’s Quarters was enjoyed and foraged by many families.
- It was also used as sheep, chicken, and pig feed, hence the name “pigweed.”
- Lamb’s Quarters is incredibly nutritious. It’s packed full of good stuff- you can find nutritional info HERE.
- Like many other greens, Lamb’s Quarter contains amounts of oxalic acid. Because oxalic acid can interfere with mineral absorption, there is some debate as to whether people should consume large amounts of raw greens (it’s not an issue once they are cooked or steamed). I personally don’t worry about it too much since I don’t eat large quantities, but if it concerns you, just lightly steam your Lamb’s Quarters before consuming.
- Choose the stems and leaves from younger plants. They will be the most tender.
- The seed heads that the plant produces later in the season are edible as well. Lamb’s Quarters is related to quinoa, which is clearly visible once you see the seeds.
How to Eat Lamb’s Quarters
- Basically just use it anywhere you would use spinach. It’s an excellent substitute.
- Lightly steam it and serve with salt, pepper, and butter.
- Throw some in your stir fry a few minutes before it’s done.
- Use it in soups (I’m dying to try it in this Zuppa Tuscana recipe!)
- Mix a handful or two into your fresh green salad.
- Use in Italian-style recipes like lasagna or stuffed shells.
- Mix it with some cheeses (ricotta or parmesan) and use it to fill pasta.
- Scramble it with your eggs for a nutritious omelet.
- Freeze it for later.
- Make a Lamb’s Quarter spread.
- Use it on your sandwich instead of lettuce.
- Make Lamb’s Quarter-infused vinegar.
- Make pesto (this link has a lot of other great Lamb’s Quarter recipes as well)
So, I’ve officially at peace with my Lamb’s Quarter problem. It’s been exciting to learn more about this plant and to realize that this former “pest” is actually a great asset to have on my homestead.
I re-seeded a small area of grass this year, and initially was dissapointed that only a portion of my grass seed germinated and the rest of the plot filled with Lamb’s Quarters… But now, I’m just thinking that it may turn into the official “Prairie Homestead Lamb’s Quarter patch.
Do you have Lamb’s Quarters on your property? How do you use them? What other “weeds” do you forage for?
Thist post was shared at: Frugal Days Sustainable Ways, Real Food Wednesday, Your Green Resource, Simple Lives Thursday, Homemakers Challenge, Monday Mania, Fat Tuesday, Traditional Tuesday
About Jill Winger
Goosefoot also refers to the vegetable family that includes spinach, beets, and Swiss chard. Our homestead is currently in transition from urban to a rural acreage. I’ve been interested in foraging but because we have dogs, I’ve not felt comfortable eating what we find. Once we move out, the doggies will be fenced in. I’ve started to identify what we have growing and am anxious to make use of it.
I hear ya about the dogs… We have 3- but thankfully my garden is fenced off.
You are such a LifeSaver !!!! I was sitting here at my computer, making a list of things I have to do today…Weeding was one of the items on the list…
I guess I’m going to see those weeds in a different light.
Wednesday is pasta night so Lamb’s quarters will be in my sauce !!!!
Thank You for all of your research. Now I just have to figure out what to do with the seeds…
Boil like quinoa ? Toast and add to a salad or bread dough?
My turn to research !!!!
I didn’t find a lot of exact ideas on what to do with the seeds- although I didn’t search too hard on that either (mostly was just after leaf ideas). You’ll have to let me know what you find!
I am so thrilled to read this article on the Lamb’s quarters! We have always eaten them for as long as I can remember and my mom tells stories about my great-grandmother going out to the corrals every spring to pick them (I guess that’s where they grew best there on the farm). So each year we go and gather them… the very small ones are the best. (The ones over 4-5 inches high can get a little tough I think). I almost prefer them over spinach! We usually just steam them and butter them. Yumm!!! Thanks again for the wonderful article! (I especially liked the link to the nutrition facts for them… I always knew they were good for you but I didn’t know exactly how good!)
I love that your great-grandmother used them! I think people back in the “old days” were a lot smarter than we are sometimes.
We love Lambs quarter! I have a section in my raised bed just for Lambs quarter. We have it steamed, stuffed in chicken with cheese, salads, stir fries – so tasty!
Stuffed chicken with cheese…. YUM!
I am always excited when I see an edible weed show up in my yard, Lamb’s quarters is a favorite and I often let it go to seed, hoping for more. I find that I have few weed problems at all except for creeping alley bellflower sigh… the other weeds are quickly eaten by me or the dog or the chickens. Many of your weeds will also be indicator plants telling you something about your soil or the soil structure. Isn’t that cool!? anyway..here I am waiting for more lambs quarters, dandelions, my first stinging nettle (where are you!?), plantain, mullein, yarrow etc to show up…hoping…. enjoy those weeds! I also look at weeding as harvesting green mulch-aka cover crop. haha
Here’s what I found so far…
Lamb’s-quarters in Flower
Wind pollinates these small, green, inconspicuous flowers, which grow on slender, branching clusters. Edible, they don’t taste very good.
The tiny black seeds that develop inside the flowers in autumn are tasty and healthful, but very labor-intensive to collect. (very tiny)
I guess I’ll stick to the leaves…Just picked some !!!
http://www.wildmanstevebrill.com/Plants.Folder/Lamb'sQuarters.html
Good to know Patti! I think I’ll stick to the leaves for now, too. Thanks so much for sharing the info!
For those that are really skeptical, sautee the lambs quarters with garlic, add any combo of cheeses, and make some quesadillas. My 3 year old wouldn’t touch greens on a plate, but stuff it in something with cheese, and he’ll devour it.
Ooooh YUM! Brilliant idea- think this may just be our supper tonight if I can get some tortillas made!
Hee hee hee, surest way to get rid of a weed – find a use for it! I’ve found that it will mysteriously quit growing B-)
Your pasta looks delicious! Can I get the recipe?
Well, that particular batch just happen to be an experiment!
It combined my alfredo recipe with another sun-dried tomato & basil pasta recipe. BUT, hope to have it ironed out and on the blog soon!
oooh! i love foraging! i’m not too good at it but i sure know dandelion greens when i see em – and i mow those little babies! haha. i’ve never heard of lamb’s quarters – guess you learn something new every day
I am co-hosting a new linky party called Fresh Foods Wednesday – i would love it if you’d come share this post (or any other CSA collections, farmer’s market hauls, garden harvests, seasonal recipes or related food rants) with us. Hope to see you there!
I’m new to foraging too Kristy- But it sure has been fun so far!
Thanks for posting this. My garden looks much like yours but predominately purslane. This encouraged me to check it out on the web! Ohmygoodness I’ve been trying to eradicate this healthy food!!
Yes, I have some purslane, too- it’s next on my research list!
My kids eat purslane raw. They pick it, wash it, eat it!
I do love greens and I think if after you butter it lightly you add(to taste)a small amount of your favorite vinegar you will be surprised at what a difference it makes. If you have them you could sub fresh lemon juice but I prefer vinegars.
Ooooh vinegar- excellent suggestion Cindy!
what a great post! Thanks for all the information. i have been pulling the darn things out too. Now i will add them to my list of “good weeds” in my beds. I also have tons of plantain, purslane, danylions and sorrel. sorrel is very tasty and tart, makes great lemony addition to any salad. I always picked it and ate it as a kid just out in the pastures. Free food from the creator!!!
I know- isn’t free food the greatest?!
Kelly over at the Morristribe was dehydrating it to use in soups and casseroles!
Oh my goodness… I read this early today & eagerly looked in my garden when I got home. I have Lamb’s quarters!! I’m eating them right now in a dinner veggie omlett. Thanks for writing!!
Wahoo Ashley! How cool is that?!
Thank you once again for posting this. I had a whole different attitude working in my garden this morning. Instead of feeling defeated, I felt energized looking at all my good edible free and easy to grow plants!
We used to grow a lot of lamb’s quarters (not on purpose!) as a kid. Where we live now though, they’re much more scarce. Kind of sad really.
If you are troubled with your spinach bolting you will find Swiss Chard is milder and can better take the heat. But, still eat the weeds!
My garden is full of these! I will have to try this.
I would love for you to share this on my first ever blog hop! http://offthegridat-30.blogspot.ca/2012/07/frugal-i-made-it-tuesday-1.html
Too funny! I just bought a pack of seeds for lamb’s quarters, I could have just gone out and raided my weedy garden…
Thanks for sharing!
Wow- they sell Lamb’s Quarter seeds? Well, makes sense I guess– they are soooo nutritious! Hope you are able to forage some, too.
I started ‘cultivating’ some weeds IN by veggie garden, called “Purslane”. They, too, taste like spinach! I put them in my scrambled eggs in the morning, and sometimes I put them, raw, in my salad, along with tender, young (never sprayed w/ weed killer) dandelion greens.
Yes! I have purslane, too. I stuck some in my lasagna recipe last year and it was yummy!
I wonder if wild plant seed packets can be purchased for planting. Whenever I see edible wild plants, there usually are not enough to make a dish. I have never seen or recognized lamb’s quarters, but I enjoy young, tender pokeweed. It tastes very much like spinach, but better.
I love foraging for chickweed (Stellaria media) in late winter/early spring. It’s an abundant “weed” too. It’s yummy as a salad green or lightly cooked like spinach. As a medicinal herb, it’s historically been used to make skin healing salves. Since it likes cool weather, it will often pop back up in the fall again for another crop. We have purslane around, but it’s too close to the road to be safe to eat. As a kid, I would love to eat sorrel, but for some reason I just don’t see much of it where I am. The dandelions where we live don’t put out very good leaves for salad, unfortunately. I remember weeding lamb’s quarters as a kid, now I wish I had them around to eat.
I too have a small piece of land just outside town & have SO MANY WEEDS! I am interested finding the best website to identify them. I have access to a camera, so I would be able to take photos if anyone would be interested in helping. I would love to know if I have any edibles ones & so would be able to eat fresh greens AND SAVE MONEY!
WIN WIN !!
I heard a Dr speak on oxalic acid foods and mentioned eating rice with them balances it out.
My mother grew up in the Carpathian mountain region. Life was very difficult and they learned to utilized weeds. My grandmother would make onions diced and fried and make rue, add milk then add lambs quarters (young tender) leaves. This is the best soup ever!!!!
Sounds good Ruth- I wouldn’t have thought to make soup from them!
Can’t wait to try some Lamb’s quarters! I have been studying online about them too. I’m new to harvesting wild edibles and so excited about it. Too bad it is dead winter here and hardly a green thing to be seen, but I’m taking lots of notes and eagerly awaiting spring! Love your posts and your blog! I saw one man online who had tons of plantain (why couldn’t you do it with lamb’s quarters?) cutting the larger plants off in big handfuls and drying it on racks for feed for his rabbits in the winter. I suppose if you had some sort of drying racks outside, it wouldn’t be too hard to cut enough for 1 rack a day and rotate them. Free food for the animals too!
Oh, I like the drying and feeding it to animals idea! It’s funny- I’ve caught myself wishing I had some lamb’s quarters to pick several times this winter. This is definitely the first time I’ve wished for there to be “weeds”, ha!
Ok, it is winter here in ND…but I’m already thinking about gardening. I never knew I could eat this “weed”! I’m excited to try it this spring along with the dandelion leaves! So many nutrition I’m find free of charge and am loving it. I told my mom about it and she said yuck, and that she want going to try it. Ah well, she has shown me other wild things to eat so I guess I’ll let her pass on on thus one.
Well, you never know Lesha– saute those babies up in some butter and garlic and you might just have her changing her mind.
Hey, I just learned something about lamb’s quarters & thought of this post. They secrete some kind of toxin once they go to seed, killing or stunting the growth of nearby plants, apparently. So, if that’s the case you may want to eat those suckers before they get seeds!