Foraging in Provence
One of the wonderful things about living in the countryside in Provence is taking advantage of the free food found all over the landscape. Any amateur forager can benefit without putting their lives at risk! (Although my other half gets quite anxious when I’ve come back with a pile of unidentifiable greens).
The flowers and bulbs of wild leeks during the month of June
Wild Leeks
Right now, along the roadsides and next to agricultural fields, you’ll see the purple flowers of wild leeks. Unfortunately, once they have flowered it is too late to pick them. However, keep a lookout so that you know what kind of environments they grow in so that you can take advantage next spring. They taste exactly like a mild onion.
The leaves and bulb are edible and are used just as you would a store-bought leek. Pick them from Feb-April.
Wild Rocket/Arugula
Also flowering right now is wild rocket or arugula. These grow everywhere and once you know what they look like you’ll be picking free salads galore! If the plant is in the sun at this time of year the leaves may have become very strong (very peppery!) and perhaps a little too thick to be nice in a salad. A downside to foraging in Provence. The best specimens are the plants in the shade. I eat them all summer long. Make sure to pick the leaves somewhere where you think there aren’t too many dog walkers!
Wild rocket/arugula and the tops of wild leeks as found in the Spring
The wild rocket/arugula plant is quite easy to identify. It smells exactly like rocket! The leaves are a little stronger than what you buy at the store (very peppery) and the flowers are edible as well.
Plums
Wild plums are fruiting right now. There are many different varieties and they all vary in acidity and sweetness. I find the yellow plums are your best bet for sweetness but you’ll have to taste to find out. These plums are best for wild plum jam.
There are many different varieties of wild plums in Provence!
A lot of the most tender and easy to eat foraged greens are best harvested in the spring such as dandelion florets, violet leaves, wild broccoli, mustard greens, nettles and so on. However, as many wild plants are flowering right now- look out for edible flowers, fruits, and seeds!
Foraging in Provence Resource
La Association Garrigue Gourmande is the best website I’ve found for comestible wild finds. I check it regularly to find new and even remind myself (as there are so many) of the currently available edible plants sprouting all over Provence.
The forager!
Check out the abundance of Wild Asparagus to be had in Provence during the Spring months.
Cute forager !!