Have you ever eaten any Polk Salad?
By mamacathie
@mamacathie (3928)
United States
June 21, 2007 6:37pm CST
This is what my mama used to call it. I think it is properly just called polk. I have added a picture of a few young plants that are right beside our driveway. I have been picking the large plants and put up 21 quarts of polk. This polk wilts like turnip greens do when you cook them. This is just in our back yard!!! God has allowed it to grow wile so I can pick it and cook it and freeze it. It is sort of like turnip greens. We mix it half and half with turnip greens, or mustard greens, or spinach. You had a little hog's jaw or bacon or bacon grease and cook it and got you a big batch of good greens. Have you eaten polk?
4 people like this
15 responses
@Lindalinda (4111)
• Canada
21 Jun 07
You must have forgotten to add the picture. I am not familiar with Polk salad.Maybe it has another name also. This is the case with so many wild plants. They have different names in different regions.
We do pick young dandilions in the spring before they are bitter and before they are sprayed. They are also very healthy in a salad. I am glad you get something healthy for free.
1 person likes this
@mamacathie (3928)
• United States
21 Jun 07
Yep, I guess I forgot to do something because the picture isn't there. LOL I thought I had heard dandelions were good in salads, do you cook them at all or eat them raw? Thanks for posting.
@mamacathie (3928)
• United States
22 Jun 07
Yes, squirrel and dumplings or rabbit and dumblings, I was the same way. It is so hard for me to eat the little fellers. Thanks for posting.
@Bujoyseth (1684)
• Philippines
22 Jun 07
what is polk sala anyway.. sorry, but i don't really know this salad. would you min sharing it with me,.. can you give me the recipe so that i can try it myself.. hehehe.. thanks in advance..
1 person likes this
@mamacathie (3928)
• United States
22 Jun 07
I added a picture of the polk. It's the plants with the big leaves. I just put the leaves into hot boiling water and boil it until they wilt completely. Boil about 15 minutes and then pour off water and add fresh water. Then you can cook them another 15 minutes or more with bacon fat or bacon. It is better to mix them with turnip greens, spinach or mustard greens. They are good.
@maddysmommy (16230)
• United States
22 Jun 07
Another vegetable I haven't tried. What does it taste like?
@mamacathie (3928)
• United States
22 Jun 07
The polk tastes like turnip greens. Thanks for posting.
@mamacathie (3928)
• United States
22 Jun 07
It tastes like turnip greens or mustard greens or spinach. Thanks for posting.
@wangchunxia (701)
• China
22 Jun 07
i do not know the vegetable you describe, but i am so curious about this plant,so i have not eaten polk~!
Maybe it has another name , not call polk!
But i want to know is it delicious?
haha !
1 person likes this
@mamacathie (3928)
• United States
22 Jun 07
I tried to upload an image of the polk. It is so delicious and free because it grew wild in my yard.
@janet069 (663)
• United States
22 Jun 07
I have plenty of it growing in my yard but I haven't eaten any is a few years. I don't mix mine with anything, just polk. My son learned the hard way about cooking them and eating them in the same water. He spent some time in the bathroom because he didn't pour off the first batch of water. When cooked properly, they are quite tasty and good for you too.
@tammyr (5946)
• Etowah, Tennessee
23 Jun 07
I had some the other day. We have a lot of it too.I always heard not to eat the big plants so I only eat them before they get the flowers started. I boil them changing the water every so often till the water no longer turns green.Then I drain them and fry them with crumbled bacon and an egg or two. I don't like them often but eat them once or twice a year. I took a mess of them to a llady at work so she could have some as she lives in town and could not find any.
@sigma77 (5383)
• United States
22 Jun 07
No, I have never eaten it and didn't realize what it was. All I can recall is that old song Polk Salad Annie or something like that. I have never seen it in the stores. I used to have friends that lived on Polk street in Taylor, Mi. Never gave it a second thought as to what a polk was. I thought it was probably some guys last name. I am not a huge salad eater, but I guess I would have to try it sometime.
1 person likes this
@mamacathie (3928)
• United States
22 Jun 07
I'm not sure you can buy it at the stores. I think it is just a wild green. Thanks for posting.
@Zelmarq (12585)
• Cebu City, Philippines
21 Jun 07
i hope i can try that, sounds interesting.
Hope you have a nice day!
@tallpaulno44a (1574)
• United States
21 Jun 07
No I haven't eaten it, but I love the song
"Polk salad Annie
Gator got your granny (chomp, chomp chomp)"
1 person likes this
@Nardz13 (5055)
• New Zealand
26 Jun 07
Hey. This "Polk" you speak of, sounds like what we Maori people in New Zealand, call "Poata or Poneke" depending on what area of NZ you are in. Anyway all Maori people will eat this green with Bacon hocks or Pork Bones, Brisket pieces or sausages, along with silver beet or spinach and other traditional greens... Fried bread complements this pot of food...
@terri0824 (4991)
• United States
21 Jun 07
Yep, but not for a very long time. Growing up in the country my mom use to fix it. From what I remember you almost have to mix turnip greens with something, because it is a bit bitter, and polk blended in with it makes it a nice flavor. And adding some sort of pork to it does give it an even better taste.
1 person likes this
@mamacathie (3928)
• United States
21 Jun 07
Yes it is a tad bitter without turnip greens, or some thing mixed with it. Thanks for posting.
I want to try some of these greens.
@PatriciaL (2080)
• United States
22 Jun 07
Hmm, don't think I've ever heard of Polk. But I do love turnip, mustard, collard greens. Well all greens just about lol. So I'll have to try that sometime. :)
