The Sunflower is usually admired for it’s beauty and not it’s flavor, but a fascinating new TikTok trend is changing that. A viral video of a man grilling up sunflower heads and munching on the petals has sparked curiosity and conversations about this unconventional cooking technique. With over 5 million views, this unique video has inspired many to try their hand at turning the bright yellow blooms into a tasty snack.

It turns out the act of charring sunflower heads over an open flame brings out their naturally sweet, nutty essence and gives them an addictive crunch. The petals become golden and crispy, while still retaining some tenderness on the inside. Grilled this way, the entire head becomes edible and packed with nutrients and subtle sunshine flavors.

While eating sunflower heads may seem odd at first, it’s not as strange as it sounds. Cultures worldwide have been eating sunflowers for centuries. The seeds are a well-known snack food, but the petals and other parts are also edible and nutrient-dense. Sunflowers contain vitamins A, C, E, and B complex as well as minerals like magnesium, iron, zinc, potassium, and antioxidants. Char-grilling them simply enhances their flavors and textures.

This superfood has been gaining popularity in recent years, but the viral TikTok video has sharply increased interest. The uniqueness of the dish and its eye-catching visuals make it perfect for sharing on social media. As more people experiment with cooking up these floral delights at home, grilled sunflower heads are emerging as a delicious new health food craze. Their appealing crunch, inherent sweetness, and visual appeal give this trend high potential for growth. Innovative cooks are just beginning to explore all the petals’ culinary possibilities.

All About Sunflowers

With over 70 species, sunflowers offer extensive diversity for culinary creativity. Popular snacking varieties like Mammoth, Kong, and Skyscraper produce exceptionally large seed heads up to 12 inches wide. Their giant stature makes them yield more edible flowers and seeds. Other varieties like ProCut and Sunbow have been specifically bred for their tender, mild-flavored petals that can be eaten fresh or cooked. Multibranching sunflowers produce multiple heads on each plant.

Sunflower heads provide a powerhouse of nutrition. The petals are rich in anthocyanins, quercetin, vitamin E, and carotenoids like beta-carotene. They also contain vitamin C, calcium, iron, selenium, zinc, magnesium, and B vitamins. The seeds boast high amounts of vitamin E, thiamin, folate, magnesium, phosphorus, manganese, selenium, copper, and healthy unsaturated fats. Even the young stalks are edible and nutritious.

Beyond grilling, there are endless culinary approaches to preparing sunflower heads. The petals can be blanched, sauteed, braised, fried into fritters, or dried into chips. Their striking color makes them ideal for visually appealing dishes. They can be mixed into salads, pasta, pizza, soups, pesto, hummus, or used like any green vegetable. The buds can be pickled into capers or fermented into a tangy condiment.

Sunflower seeds have long been favored as a snack when roasted and salted. But they can also be ground into dairy-free sunflower seed butter, pressed into oil, or made into milks, yogurts and cheeses. Toasted seeds add nutrition and crunch to breads, granola, trail mixes, and desserts.

When cooked, sunflower petals develop a slightly nutty, bittersweet flavor with an addictive crispy-crunchy texture similar to kale chips. Grilling accentuates sunflowers’ inherently sweet, toasted taste – like rays of sunshine captured in each bite. The possibilities are endless for innovating with these edible sun-colored blooms.

As sunflowers transition from ornamental plant to multipurpose food ingredient, culinary creatives have only begun unlocking their full potential. The surge of interest in cooking and snacking on these cheerful flowers makes this a trend to watch blossom.

Grilling Sunflowers On TikTok

Now that this is a trending activity on TikTok, There are hundreds of videos of people putting their own spin on this nourishing, yet sustainable meal. Here are a few of the most popular on the web right now.

@redleafranch

The way I’ve been #CRAVING a #grilled #sunflower #fresh from the garden! And I’m serving it up #elote style! 🤩🌻✨

♬ original sound – Redleaf Ranch

The responses to the videos are quite funny. Some people are completely shocked by this new revelation. Others are not impressed whatsoever. A few even found it gross, but many are compairing these grilled sunflowers to a sweeter, nuttier, corn on the cob.

@aspenackley

Would you try this? #grilledsunflower #sunflower #grilling

♬ Picnic – Blue Poem

Try Our Grilled Sunflower Caesar Salad

Ingredients:

• 3 small sunflower heads
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 1 tbsp lemon juice
• 1 garlic clove, minced
• 1/4 cup parmesan cheese, grated
• 1 head romaine lettuce, chopped
• 1 avocado, diced
• 1/4 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
• 2 oz whole grain croutons

Caesar Dressing:

• 1/4 cup mayonnaise
• 1 tbsp Dijon mustard
• 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
• 1 garlic clove, minced
• 2 anchovies, minced (optional)
• 1 tbsp lemon juice
• 2 tbsp parmesan, grated
• Black pepper and salt to taste

Instructions:

1. Drizzle sunflower heads with 1 tbsp olive oil and grill 3-5 minutes until petals are charred and crispy.
2. Whisk together mayonnaise, Dijon, Worcestershire, garlic, anchovies if using, lemon juice and parmesan. Season with salt and pepper.
3. In a salad bowl, mix together chopped romaine, avocado, tomatoes and croutons.
4. Slice grilled sunflower heads in half and add to salad.
5. Drizzle with Caesar dressing and remaining 1 tbsp olive oil. Garnish with more parmesan. Enjoy!

While munching on sunflower heads may seem like an odd new trend at first glance, it offers a tasty and nutritious way to enjoy this versatile plant. As this viral TikTok video demonstrates, charring the petals and seeds over an open flame can transform the blooms into a delightful, crunchy snack packed with nutrients.

Grilling is just one of many cooking methods that bring out the sunflower’s inherent sweet, nutty flavors and make the entire head edible. Their high nutritional content and adaptability have allowed sunflowers to be enjoyed across cultures for centuries. Now this superfood is gaining renewed enthusiasm as a fun, Instagram-worthy ingredient.

With petals as vibrantly golden as the summer sun, sunflowers visually reflect their sun-kissed taste. Food innovators are only beginning to tap into their potential, finding new ways to incorporate sunflower heads into healthy, petal-to-stem cooking. As more people discover just how delicious sunflowers can be, this epideictic flower may just grow into a full-fledged food craze.

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