What is Sorrel?

The Nigerian drink Zobo or the Carribean sorrel drink are made with hibiscus, not with the sorrel used in cooking in Europe.

I use parsley and lots of it in a blender with 2 slices of white bread that were soaked in sherry vinegar. Slowly drizzle a neutral oil on it and salt and pepper to taste.

I have grown it for several years. My father used to grow it at his cottage. I took several of the plants and transplanted them at my home. It has grown now for three years. Very good taste to it. I use it like lettuce or spinach and even make a salad out of it.

Sorrel is made into a popular drink in Nigeria called Zobo, Sobo, or Zoborodo. The dried leaves/flowers of the red variety are boiled in water to reveal a tangy delicious taste. Some people boil their sorrel with pineapple peels, cardamom and cloves then add sugar and vanilla essence to the strained drink. It is best drunk fresh or within a week because it will ferment after a few days left in the fridge.

Sorrel is commonly grown in Florida, planted in June and harvested in December. I'd like to know if there is a market available and where.

I live in South Carolina and am growing my own sorrel without difficulty. Contact me if you have any questions.

I live in NJ. I'm growing my own sorrel in a flower pot on the deck (away from deer) for the second consecutive year. It's very easy. I planted the sorrel last year, I hardly watered it, it grew out again this spring, I harvested it numerous times, and of course enjoyed eating it.

I live in NC. Has anyone had luck growing sorrel in my state?

Where can I buy fresh sorrel in the USA?

Sorrel is called Kardeh in persian language and they make the best soup(ash) in the city of Shiraz in Iran. They make it in the huge pot and they sell it in the street during the winter time.

sorrel is used in India also to make some pickles and for making chicken also. It is popular in other ways and good source of iron.

If there is a Russian community in the area, there will probably be sorrel in the farmer's market. They use it, in part because it is delicious and big part because they claim it brings down blood pressure. In Southern California it grows wild, with little trumpet like yellow flowers. As kids we loved chewing on the sour stems.

Sorrel is a popular ingredient in Russian cooking and is used for making excellent soups for which Russian cuisine is so famous. Refills your body with vitamins and refreshes taste buds. Interested?

I can share my recipe.

Does anyone have advice on splitting sorrel?

Sorrel is very popular in south and east Romania. The taste is sour, not bitter. I like it better than spinach. Also popular in (Eastern) Europe: orach. Tastes like spinach but is purple :)

sorrel (Rumex pattientia) + orach (Atriplex hortensis) + lovage (Levisticum officinale) + parsley + spring onion + knorr (chicken taste) + vermicelli pasta = great soup

Sorrel is a commonly used ingredient in French cooking. It is used in soups, such as health soup, omelets, and to make green sauce served with fish. One can also chop some leaves and add them to salad. Use small leaves in salads since they are generally less bitter than large ones.

Hi fusspot,

This is a really good question. I looked this up for you and there were a bunch of suggestions, but most everyone suggested baby spinach as a reasonable substitute. Though because sorrel is bitter you might try instead rocket/arugula or young dandelion leaves, which would give you more of the bite and bitterness of sorrel. Another suggestion to get the bitter taste is to prepare a sauce with a bit of bite to it. One suggestion I found was garlic aioli, a homemade mayo. Hope that helps.

Which other herb/veg could I use to make a sorrel sauce for fishcakes if I am unable to get sorrel?

Many thanks.