Nov 22, 2023

Unlocking the Bread-Making Secrets of 9 Ordinary Wild Plants

During the initial weeks of the lockdowns, while toilet paper and cleaning supplies shortages made headlines, another quieter scarcity emerged as people turned to baking as a form of solace and sustenance: flour. In fact, one flour company, King Arthur's Flour, reported an astonishing sales increase of over 2,000 percent in March. While many began to experiment with baking bread during this period, homesteaders were already familiar with the art of bread-making as a way of life. However, if your flour choices have been limited to the standard white or wheat varieties, or if you've dabbled with corn or barley, you're in for a fascinating journey into the world of bread-making with unconventional flours. Wild plants can be transformed into nutritious and flavorful flours, surpassing the qualities of most store-bought options.

Our ancestors regularly foraged for wild plants to create bread, even as wheat cultivation became widespread. Wild flour doesn't contain gluten, or in the case of rye, contains very little gluten, which means it doesn't yield the typical fluffy, smooth white bread associated with wheat flour. While yeast and sugar can be used to enhance the texture and taste, flour made from wild plants typically produces rustic and denser baked goods. The fundamental principle behind making flour from these plants is to grind uncooked grains, seeds, or roots into a fine powder, although it's important to note that a significant quantity of the source material is required to produce flour. It's also possible to blend flours from different plants to create a multi-grain homemade bread. Here are nine common plants you can use to make bread:

Acorns: Abundant and easily harvested in the fall in many parts of the country, acorns can be turned into rich-tasting flour. However, due to their tannin content, acorns have a bitter taste that must be removed before grinding them into flour. This can be accomplished by soaking, drying, and roasting them.
Amaranth: Also known as pigweed, amaranth is a large weed that produces seeds in stalks. The Ancient Aztecs used it as a staple food to make hot cereal, tamales, and tortillas. Harvest the seeds in the fall, dry them, and grind them into flour to create a mild, nutty-flavored option.
Rye: Often confused with ryegrass, rye is a cereal grain that grows wild in the U.S. and is closely related to barley and wheat. It reaches a height of 3 to 4 feet and produces long, narrow seeds in the fall. To make rye flour, shake or hit the plants to release the seeds, then separate and grind them.
Rice (Wild): Although it's technically the seed of an aquatic grass and not true rice, wild rice can be transformed into flour for flatbread. Simply grind it into a fine powder, sift out any large pieces, and mix it with another flour for a unique taste.
Cattail: Every part of the cattail plant is edible, making it a valuable resource. Flour is made from the underground rhizomes, which are soaked, peeled, dried, mashed, and crushed to create flour.
Coconut: While coconut-producing palm trees are limited to South Florida in the U.S., dried coconut flesh can be ground into a mild-flavored flour, providing both flour and coconut milk in one process.
Curly Dock: A perennial plant found in wet areas, curly dock's roots, leaves, stems, and seeds are all edible. Harvest the seeds from brown, dry stalks in late summer or early fall, and grind them into flour.
Dandelion: Bright yellow dandelion petals can be used to make flour. Collect blooms from pesticide-free areas when they're fully open, wash, dry, and process them to create dandelion flour.
Almonds: While almond trees are not native to North America, they thrive in certain regions. Almond flour is a simple alternative to wheat flour, offering a 1:1 substitution in recipes. It's gluten-free or low in gluten and contains little to no yeast, making it suitable for those with sensitivities.

Making flour from these unconventional sources not only promotes self-sufficiency but also offers health benefits, such as being gluten-free or low in gluten, which is important for those with gluten sensitivity. Additionally, these breads tend to be yeast-free or low in yeast, which helps maintain a healthy balance of gut bacteria. Crafting your own bread also adds a comforting touch to your kitchen, which is especially valuable in uncertain times.