A while back this city boy spent a few years in the Missouri Ozarks, and folks there raved about "Poke Salad". I was shown the weed,
and I suffed a bunch of leaves in a "poke" (sack or bag to the rest of us), took 'em home and made a delicious tossed green salad. It was reqlly good.
Unfortunately, my mountain friends had forgotten to mention the toxic aspects of the weed, said toxins necessitating boiling and discarding the water prior to consumption. I got away with it, bt my B/W suffered tremendous abdominal discomfort, to put it nicely.
Next time we boiled it, and it was a really nice change from spinach, chard, collard greens, etc. Much more pleasant flavor - in my opinion - than any of the others.
Back in the city, I'd pretty much forgotten Pokeweed. Then a friend, a black lady from Oklahoma, mentioned that she grows it in her garden here in L.A. - and would I like some? I jumped at the offer, and tonite dined on crisp fried chicken, hush puppies, and poke salet (salet from the german word for salad) tossed in bacon drippings )after boiling!). A truly delicious and satisfying dinner.
So I'm gonna grow my own now! It's a welcome change. Give it a try!