Not only can you see them, but you can also eat them！Golden needle flowers turn into pasta

▲ Admire a sea of golden needle flowers and also try special golden needle flower dishes. (Photo / Provided by Hualien County Government)

Reporter Chen Ziying / Special Report

Seeing a sea of golden needle flowers is wonderful, but tasting golden needle flower dishes makes this golden needle flower trip truly complete. According to the Compendium of Materia Medica, golden needle flowers are rich in protein and iron, offering high nutritional value. They help with blood production, anemia relief, strengthening organ functions, as well as diuresis, hemostasis, and reducing swelling. This summer, not only can you admire golden needle flowers, but you can also enjoy delicious and therapeutic golden needle flower meals.

The Hualien County Government, which boasts vast fields of golden needle flowers, points out that to enjoy delicious golden needle flower meals, it is first necessary to cultivate sulfur-free edible golden needle flowers, combined with the increasingly important eco-friendly and healthy concepts of "from farm to table" and "zero food miles," allowing flower-viewing visitors to savor healthy, natural, and environmentally friendly sulfur-free golden needle special meals.

 
 
▲ The seemingly ordinary edible golden needle flower can be transformed into creative and diverse dishes. (Photo / Provided by Hualien County Government)

Cai Kun-cheng, a renowned chef from a well-known hotel in Hualien, incorporates golden needle flowers into his dishes, presenting creative golden needle flower dishes such as Nissin Golden Needle Flower Salad, White Wine Garlic Golden Needle Flower Shrimp Pasta, Preserved Olive Golden Needle Pancake, and Sesame Oil Pine Beef Golden Needle Flower. Each dish features golden needle flowers as the star, showcasing a variety of delicious culinary creations.

 
▲ Among them, the chef’s recommended “White Wine Garlic Golden Needle Flower Shrimp Pasta” has a distinctive East-meets-West flavor. (Photo / Provided by Hualien County Government)

For the highly recommended “White Wine Garlic Golden Needle Flower Shrimp Pasta,” Chef Cai Kun-cheng generously shares the recipe. First, bring water to a boil, then add the pasta and cook for about 8 to 10 minutes before draining. Drizzle with a little oil to prevent sticking and let it cool. Wash the dried golden needle flowers with clean water, soak them, then blanch in hot water and set aside. In a pan, heat some olive oil, sauté sliced garlic until golden brown, then add chili, sliced mushrooms, and golden needle flowers. Pour in an appropriate amount of white wine and let the alcohol evaporate. Then add fresh shrimp and stir-fry until half-cooked. Next, add the prepared pasta and toss well. Once everything is cooked, season to taste. Finally, add some basil leaves and stir for a few more seconds before plating.

Another recommended simple golden needle flower dish is the “Nissin Golden Needle Flower Salad.” First, wash fresh golden needle flowers with clean water, blanch in hot water, then chill. Boil eggs in rolling water for about 15 minutes, then place in cold water to peel and set aside. Next, combine all ingredients and seasonings, mix with olive oil, then add seasonings in sequence. Decorate the plate with romaine lettuce hearts, place the mixed salad in the center, and sprinkle with chopped parsley to finish.