Horta

[Volvo]

Many moons ago on ye old Forums i happened to mention about a green Grass/vegy/plant we Greeks know and called "Horta" which we cook/boil , drain off the fluids and soak with Olive Oil and lemon and eat it as a combination food/Vegy with mostly Fish and a Vegy which most Greeks truly love eating..
Some time late last year i happened to come across some seed of a Horta variety ide never seen before but rather fancied once tried..
Recieved seed and hence this summer it is flourishing in my vegy patch and wander if anyone out there would happen to know its true name..
Uploaded are a coupla Piccies of the said plant..
Cheers

[epiphanista]

Oh my goodness, volvo! That photo is scrumptious to a Greek like me!

It does look like the 'dandilion' family. Can you describe the flavor?

Also, I'd be thrilled to receive some seed if you have extra at the end of your season...

~Thalia

[cottonpicker]

I believe Horta is a type of DANDELION GREENS.

LarryD

[celestina]

I did find this about Horta: http://www.theage.com.au/cgi-bin/com...359553676.html

Seems like it might refer to a whole set of greens that are used in Greek cooking.

[epiphanista]

Yes, what Greeks call horta is any collected greens for the pot, although they are usually on the bitter side (not old bitter, just a little bitter in flavor - Americans don't like bitter as much as other cultures). Dandilions just happen to be ubiquitous, especially in our country!

But Volvo's picture really does look like a dandilion to me.

And I think you are looking for an answer as to what this particular variety of green is called, regardless of whether it's a dandilion, is that right, Volvo? Unfortunately, I don't have an answer for you, but I'll be interested in what you find out!

~Thalia

[cottonpicker]

Now it seems that HORTA refers to a collection of wild greens encompassing careless weeds, pigweed, lambsquarter, beet greens, escarole, etc....
LarryD

[Earl]

I did some looking and found a couple of blog pages, very interesting read.

http://organicallycooked.blogspot.co.../01/horta.html

http://www.greek-recipe.com/static/i...ld_greens.html

[Raymondo]

Could be either dandelion or chicory as there are chicories that look just like dandelions. My bet is dandelion, one of the cultivated varieties that has a more upright habit.

[Volvo]

Thanks gang and will certainly keep looking till i find their true name..Dandilion ey??..
They were given to me by a Cypriot lady down Brisvages(Brisbain) way we had visisted..Spotted them in her vegy patch and just had to ask what they were and glad i did too as they are very tasty to eat the way greeks normally cook n eat Horta, In a salad and Epiphanista you will mostly be glad to hear that they are tops used for Doulmadis in the place of grape leaves if you are running short of the Grape Leave or can mix n match..Am very anxious to keep seed .
So far they just keep on growing and giving more leaf as you take away leaf for cooking..
They only need about five to ten minutes in the pot to cook also..
Flavour is excellent and will never ever need to go hiking in the woods looking for "Rathikka" or their companions again lol..
Soon as they give off seed i will definetly give a hollar here and anyone wanting some i will only be too glad to send..
Cheers

[epiphanista]

Well now I am hungry, Volvo! And it's only 7 am here in California!

I look forward to hearing how the season progresses.

~Thalia

[Volvo]

Been checking out edible dandilions, thistles and heavens knows what else n still cant find their real name or simmilar looking plant..
Would make a shocking PI i'll tell ya ..
Back to the search....
Might just leave it at "Horta" least peoples know what i'm refering to lol..

[mverivaki]

Known as dandelion in English, rathiki in Greek.
Signed, organicallycooked

[Volvo]

mverivaki, firstly "Tikkannis" ?. Tell me? is the particular plant in the Photos as shown whats known as "Dandelion" or "Rathiki/rathika" in general???...
Mainly ask because what ive grown to know as rathika are totally different looking to those in the Photo unless they all come under the same kname?? with varying varieties??..
Wouldnt happen to know a "Costas Bamboukakis " there by any chance would you??..
Cheers and "Efharisto"..

[Raymondo]

I looked up an online English-Greek dictionary which said that rathiki can mean either dandelion or chicory. Until it flowers, it's going to be hard to tell. The flowers however are totally different - dandelion has bright yellow flowers and chicory has blue flowers.

[Volvo]

Yeah mate ive just spent a wee bit of time checking out Dandelions and dandelion flowers just to try spot some the same as in my pics but all i managed to come up with is a host of different flowers which dont quite tell me much lol..
Like you said i might just have to wait till they flower and at the rate they are going it dont look like its about to happen in the near future, specially at the rate were are attacking them anyhow lol..
Will need to sus out what time of the year they do flower and if i may need to bag the flower to attain its seed.
Mindyou the lady which did give me these seeds just had some plants all tied and bunched together hanging under her pagolar so doubt they are goingto be flowers akin to photos ive seen so far??...
Maybe just need to have patience and see8) ...
The leaves on the plants at home are growing up to eighteen inches long and wide enough to wrap some mince and rice into to end with "Doulmadis " as mentioned earlier..
Some of the plants are reaching three foot high as we pick the lower bigger leaves , younger and newer leaves are pushing through the top...
Anyhows will just have to wait n see ....
Cheers