Garlic Mustard ice cream? Invasivore.org offers a recipe! Photo: John Fielding.
The Great Lakes region could save a lot of money by following the “if you can’t beat ‘em, eat ‘em” motto of a website called Invasivore.org.
A handful of biologists, ecologists and doctoral students update the site with news on pesky invaders and recipes, like this Ma-po Garlic Mustard and Tofu dish.
Garlic Mustard is an aggravating weed that covers forest floors and dominates root systems throughout the Great Lakes. But when paired with broccoli, tofu and a spicy sauce, it apparently is something to be desired.
The eating of invasive species is “reasonable revenge” for the harm these animals, fish and plants inflict on natural environments, according to Invasivore.org. The name plays off the words “carnivore” and “herbivore.”
Garlic Mustard seems to be the invasive ingredient of choice, but there are others.
The site points to a list of invasive recipes from the Detroit Examiner.com, including a sea lamprey stew that first appeared in Science News Online.
But be careful, as someone commented on an Echo story highlighting invasive recipes. Lamprey, like other invasive fish, may have high levels of mercury.
Perhaps some invasives will always leave a bad taste in your mouth.
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Just remember, if you use an invasive like garlic mustard for cooking, PLEASE dispose of any extra parts of the plant in your trash can and not in your compost… or you could just be spreading the problem even further. Now if we can just get more people interested in eating Asian carp, which are apparently relatively tasty, that would be a huge win!