White Clover Pudding: A Recipe for Comfort & Healing (2024)

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ANCESTRAL FOOD. HERBAL WISDOM. MAGICAL COOKERY. SEASONAL CELEBRATION.

Danielle Prohom OlsonFloral Delights, Recipe, Spring, Summer, Summer, Sweet Treats, Wild Ediblescomfort food, healing, pudding, white clover, white clover honey24 Comments

White Clover Pudding: A Recipe for Comfort & Healing (1)

Little did I know when I first came across an old pioneer recipe for “White Clover Snow” that it would be my solace during dark and hungry times. But after a recent dental pummeling that left me aching and unable to chew, it was this sweet unassuming little ‘pudding’that rode to my rescue. Spooning its creamy softness into my mouth was soothing and nourishing – and I took great comfort knowing it was chock full of medicinal ingredients that would help speed healing along.

Although the original recipe called forMililotus Mill, the tall, field sweet clover, I wasn’t quite up to going on a forage – so I adapted with what I had on hand – the white clover that was growing in profusion right outside my front door.

Overshadowed by her taller better known sister Red Clover, Trifolium repens L.rarely raises her frilly head above a height of eight inches – which might explain why we hardly notice her, even though she practically grows in every patch of grass the eye can see. And she is one of the oldest cultivated plants in existence, having been brought here by early settlers from Europe.

Why she is not as often used in herbalist remedies or wild cookery today is puzzling – she is reputed to be just as medicinal and even more delicious. But while she might be neglected by us, she is beloved by bees who far prefer gathering pollen from her white blossoms than the red.

White clover is high in protein (being from the legume family) as wellas many nutrients and minerals – and is sweet and tasty. And you can even make the blossoms into awhite clover flour which Iwill most certainly be making. Most of us are familiar with her flavour through White Clover Honey, the most commonly used table honey today. And like Red Clover she is a potent healer with anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial properties, as well as a blood and lymph cleanser, helping dispel toxins from cells and tissues.

Add to this her magical reputation as breaker of curses and dispeller of “ill’ energy and you can see why she makes a good choice for those who are a little down and in need of revitalizing. So while this may not be the desert to wow your guests with at a dinner party,I assure you that the sweet healing energy of the white clover blossoms, combined with golden honey, rich gentle thick cream (or full fat yogurt) and the bright uplifting flavour of orange – make it the perfect comfort food for those occasions when a little tender loving care is in order.

White Clover Pudding

Ingredients

  • 2 cups of white clover blossoms (remove/snip petals from the flower head and discard any browned petals)
  • 1 tbsp (or one sheet) of organic unflavored gelatin
  • 1 cup of water
  • 1/2 cup of fresh squeezed orange juice (approx. two largeoranges)
  • 4 tablespoons of White Clover Honey preferably – though any honey will do
  • 1 cup of heavy cream whipped to stiffness (or 1 cup of full fat organic Greek yogurt)
  • pinch of salt

Directions

  • Dissolve the gelatin in 1/4 cup of water.
  • In a small saucepan slowly bring to a boil the white clover blossoms, water, orange juice, honey and salt.
  • Remove from heat, stir in gelatin until completely dissolved, and allow to stand for 10 minutes.
  • Place covered in refrigerator until the mixture begins to jell.
  • Whip 1 cup of heavy cream until it stiffens OR get your cup of yogurt handy
  • Fold whipped cream or yogurt into the jelled clover mixture.
  • Place into a clear class serving bowl and refrigerate until set.

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  1. I love that recipe and your photos very much as well!

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  2. If you are a first timer to the clover eating club, what you first need to know is that you must use the freshest blossoms you can find, and use them immediately. Blossoms left to brown will ferment almost immediately and the toxic compound made is Warfarin- a medical blood thinner and main ingredient in rat poison.

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    1. Hi Mary, Thanks for the warning, but I thought that this applied only to the taller meadow sweet clovers or melilotus? I’m not sure if it is true for our common little white clover, Trifolium repens? But, yes I only used the freshest blossoms for this recipe and discarded any browning petals.

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  3. Reblogged this on Cymraes's Corner and commented:
    There comes a time, when culinary delights, simple foraging and magic mix deliciously. This is one of those moments… with thanks to Danielle for this dessert… It’s sounds heavenly!

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  4. Just discovered your site…this recipe is wonderful! I’ve been fascinated lately with the plants growing in my yard, and can’t wait to try this out on my little clovers!

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  5. Such a beautiful presentation of this healing gem.
    Thank you so much.

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    1. What properties does it have in a salve?

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  6. I am so grateful to you for this recipe and information. I too have a profusion of White clover which I have always allowed to run riot as the Bees love it so much. Now I can make this with it. Herbally, I would imagine that it is rather like the difference between white and red valerian, the white just has milder medicinal properties than their red cousins.
    Thanks again, you are a Star for sharing this 🙂

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  7. Beautiful post! A pudding made with white clover. How fun is that? I will adapt it, though, to use pectin or cornstarch instead of gelatin because I’m vegetarian. This has been the year I’ve discovered edible flowers and herbs, opening up a whole new world to me. Thanks be to God for His amazing creation.

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    1. You can use agar to adapt it. Agar is from seaweed and is a perfect vegan substitute for gelatin.

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  8. Very interesting and enjoyable read. I’m glad I stumbled onto your page!

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  9. What a great recipe. One more warning – honey when heated looses all healing properties, and according to Ayurveda becomes toxic. If you feed cooked honey to the bees, they will die. I would just slightly modify the above recipe, and add honey after water-blossom mixture is taken of the heat. If one wants to preserve maximum vit C from the orange juice, it should not be heated either… I wonder if those alterations would significantly change the taste of the pudding… One more note, I am not sure if just bringing honey to boil temperature causes negative changes, or if you have to cook it for longer. That would require more research.

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    1. Very interesting & positive suggestions and I don’t see any reason why the recipe couldn’t be augmented to do so! Thank-you!

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  10. For an extra health boost, you could substitute the gelatin with chis seeds.

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  11. I made this for a Lughnasadh potluck earlier this year, and was just refering back to this recipe to write it into my book of shadows for future sabbats! Thank you very much 😀

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    1. Well thank-you! Such a beautiful underutilized plant…one of these days I hope to get around to making white clover flour and white clover crispbreads!

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  12. Does it have to be orange juice? I wonder what other juices might do well. It sounds sooo delicious

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    1. I think it’s the citric twist that gives the pudding some life…but give it a try and let me know how it works out!

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White Clover Pudding:  A Recipe for Comfort & Healing (2024)

FAQs

What are the health benefits of white clover? ›

Clover Medicinal Uses

These polyphenols and flavonoids have been linked to numerous health benefits, including improved heart health and a lower risk of type 2 diabetes. The white clover fusion, in particular, can help boost the immune system and treat a variety of illnesses such as colds, fevers, and coughs.

How much nitrogen does white clover fix? ›

Nitrogen fixation is one of many economically important features of clover, particularly when clover represents a substantial proportion of available forage. A vigorous stand of white clover will fix 100-150 pounds of nitrogen per year depending on soil and growing conditions (Table 3).

Does white dutch clover spread? ›

White clover (Trifolium repens L.) is a short-lived perennial that can reseed under favorable conditions, rapidly grow, and spread via stolons.

Is white clover a perennial? ›

Trifolium repens, white clover, is a perennial legume that originated in Europe and has become one of the most widely distributed legumes in the world. It generally has a prostrate, stoloniferous growth habit.

What does clover do to the human body? ›

Health care practitioners believe that red clover "purified" the blood by acting as a diuretic (helping the body get rid of excess fluid) and expectorant (helping clear lungs of mucous), improving circulation, and helping cleanse the liver.

Is white clover safe to eat? ›

Both red and white clover are edible and are often used like spinach in a salad. Some folks use the flowers to make a clover jelly or steep them in water to make tea.

What is the difference between Dutch white clover and New Zealand white clover? ›

Types of white clovers include: White Dutch: short plant but has greatest persistence and winter hardiness. New Zealand: intermediate in height, flowers profusely, has some heat tolerance. Ladino: fixes the most nitrogen, is taller and higher yielding but less persistent than White Dutch.

Which is better, red or white clover? ›

Red clover tends to fix more nitrogen than white Dutch clover does, so it can better fertilize your soil for other grasses. The more nitrogen clover fixes, the healthier your lawn will be — with no synthetic fertilizer needed.

What does white clover not tolerate? ›

Some Canadian varieties of white clover can tolerate soil pH as low as 4.5 (Miller, 1984c), but acid soil should be limed to a pH of 6.0-6.5 before seeding white clover (Carlson et al., 1985). White clover is not suited to dry, swampy, high-alkaline, or highly-saline sites (Gibson and Cope, 1985).

What kills white dutch clover? ›

If the clover is already on your lawn, you'll need a post-emergent weed killer. Use a systemic herbicide for broadleaf weeds such as triclopyr, dicamba, MCPP, 2,4-D, fluroxypyr, and quinclorac.

What is the difference between white clover and microclover? ›

Microclover refers to smaller varieties of white clover (Trifolium repens var. 'Pirouette' and 'Pipolina'). These types have smaller leaves, fewer flowers, and a lower growth habit compared to Dutch white clover. They also have a less aggressive clump-forming habit.

What are the downsides of clover grass? ›

Some potential downsides of a clover lawn include its tendency to attract bees (which may be an issue for those with allergies or concerns about pets and children), its invasive growth pattern, and its potentially uneven appearance compared to a traditional grass lawn.

What is the lifespan of a white clover? ›

It has been estimated that a white clover plant and its various branches usually can live for up to 20 years, but that some may survive for more than 100 years. One researcher reported that nearly three-fourths of white clover seed was able to germinate even after being stored in an unheated shed for 25 years.

How invasive is white clover? ›

The problem is that white clover is invasive, and once it invades your property it can become a problem. It may also be a sign of a lack of fertilization. If your soil is lacking nitrogen, it becomes a very attractive place for white clover to reside.

How long does it take for white clover to establish? ›

On average, it takes about 4-6 weeks for clover to fully establish and grow into a lush and vibrant carpet of green. So, if you're thinking of adding some clover to your garden or lawn, you'll be delighted to know that you won't have to wait too long to enjoy its beauty!

Does white clover increase estrogen? ›

repens (white clover) does not normally contain estrogens, but when heavily infested with fungi it may contain significant amounts.

How to use white clover medicinally? ›

White clover blossoms are rich in many vitamins and minerals, so this tea is good to drink as a general health tonic and for detoxifying. A white clover infusion (a strong tea that is steeped for several hours) is also anti-inflammatory and beneficial for the immune system. Drink a cup to help relieve coughs and colds.

What are the medicinal uses of white sweet clover? ›

Sweet clover is sometimes used along with regular medicines for treatment of blood clots in the veins. Other uses include treatment of hemorrhoids and blockage of the lymphatic system. The lymphatic system drains fluid from tissues. Some people apply sweet clover directly to the skin for bruises.

Is white clover a blood thinner? ›

Its flowering branch and leaf are used as medicine. Sweet clover contains ingredients that might thin the blood and help wounds heal.

References

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