How to Eat Milk Thistle

Overview

Milk thistle is commonly seen as a prickly weed that needs to be pulled from a garden area. However, in the 16th century it was popular to eat all parts of the plant. Milk thistle contains silymarin, which is nourishing to the liver. The chemicals in the plant block toxins from entering and harming the liver, and also removes toxins from liver cells. Milk thistle can also help to regenerate already damaged liver cells. If you are looking to get more of this useful plant into your diet there are several ways you can eat it.

Step 1

Boil new shoots of plants until they wilt. Serve them with butter. You can also eat the shoots of seeds you sprout in your windowsill this way, or throw them on salads raw.

Step 2

Peel the skins off of your milk thistle stalks to remove the spiny points. Put them in a bowl and cover them with water to soak overnight. This will help to lessen any bitterness in the stalk. Eat your soaked stalks raw like celery, or add them to soup or stews.

Step 3

Use scissors to cut the spiny edges of your milk thistle leaves off. Saute the leaves of your milk thistle plant like you would spinach with just a little bit of oil. Let the leaves become wilted. Saute them with fresh garlic and squeezed lemon for extra flavor.

Step 4

Boil the bottom of the milk thistle flower head like you would an artichoke. Eat the flower head by removing or slicing into the boiled skin to get to the fleshy inside.

Step 5

Grind your seeds finely in a coffee grinder. Sprinkle the ground seed over your salads, or add it to a smoothie.

Step 6

Boil roots from plants in their second year of growth until they become soft when poked with a fork. Serve boiled roots with butter. You can also slice the roots and serve them on your salad.