Alnus viridis, commonly known as green alder, is a charming shrub adorned with petite cones. Recently I stumbled upon an intriguing culinary use for its catkins, discovering that the in the late fall the catkins are harvested & marketed as "dune pepper", "alder pepper" or "alder crisp" to provide a unique seasoning to dishes.
The term pepper seems to be attributed because of a peppery note, and the shape of the catkins. In this video, we embark on our first culinary experiment with this newfound ingredient, choosing to infuse it into zesty lemon dune pepper potato wedges!
Have you ever tried cooking with this wild seasoning? Share your experiences and recipes in the comments below — we'd love to hear from you!
#wildfood #wildseasonings #dunepepper #alderpepper