It is common to see sunflower oil in Indian kitchen. The oil is used for cooking. Many people also use sunflower seeds in their diet. However, there are other uses of sunflower too. Read on to know.
1. As bird feed
Birds love sunflower seeds. So, if you have a bird bath in your home garden, you can place sunflower seeds for them to much on. Besides, the flowers of this plant are so attractive that butterflies often hop on and around them.
However, if you want to harvest seeds for replanting sunflower crop, you must save them from the birds. Cover the heads of flower with a bad made of paper.
2. As a green screen
Sunflower plants are tall and spread widely. If you have a heap of compost in a corner of your land, you can plant sunflowers around the heap. Once they grow strong, they will form a shield for your compost, besides, making the place look appealing.
3. As milk and flour
Ever heard of sunflower seed flour? In India, sunflower oil and oilcakes are more popular. Recently, sunflower meal in the form of pellets was imported from Russia. Sunflower seeds are high in protein. Sunflower seed milk is also consumed in many parts of the world, although it may not be much popular in India. Yet, if you are fond of milk other than the normal milk, you can try sunflower seed milk. It costs lesser than almond milk.
4. As salad
Sunflower microgreens are used salads. The leaves have thick spinach-like texture and mild nutty flavor. Shoots and greens, both, are used in salad. Or you can make a green smoothie. Do you know sunflower shoots and microgreens constitute of upto 25% protein? They are rich in calcium, iron, potassium, phosphorus, niacin, amino acids, and Vitamins A, B, C, and E.
Sunflower as microgreen is cultivated in many parts of India.
5. As coffee
Sounds interesting, right? Sunflower seed hulls pose as good coffee substitute, but you may have to develop a taste for this coffee. Take one teaspoon of hulls and steep them in one cup of water for 3 minutes. Add more hulls as per your taste. Add some honey to sweeten your coffee.
Sunflower cultivation is also done in the Zaid season in many parts of India.
