Any uses for hibiscus flowers besides tea?

[coll]

Stopped in the local South American supermarket and on an impulse, bought a giant bag of dried hibiscus flowers for under a dollar. Now I'm not sure what they would be appropriate for? Or will I just be making gallons of tea?

[shallots]

Pati Jinich gives four recipes including spinach with a hibiscus vinagrette, steak tacos with a hibicus and japeno syrup, hibiscus popsicles,and hibiscus water. (She uses the word Jamaica for what we call hibiscus)

http://patismexicantable.com/2011/05/...

[L.Nightshade]

Wow, what a great link shallots! Thanks for posting that.
I forgot about popsicles. I made jamaica paletas last summer. Very refreshing!

[coll]

Thank you so much! Now I'm sorry I didn't get more.....

[L.Nightshade]

This is really a use of the tea, but I've been brewing the flowers, chilling the tea, and making a drink with hibiscus tea, tequilla, lime juice, sugar to taste, and a few shots of cholula hot sauce. Delicious with a kick.

I'm considering trying this recipe for the Home Cooking Dish of the Month: Hibiscus flower enchiladas. Haven't tried it yet though.
http://www.bonappetit.com/recipes/201...

[Cherylptw]

Jelly/Jam (serve over a block of cream cheese with a good grind of pepper with some crackers or crostini)

Flan

You could make a granita or sorbet without an ice cream maker

[coll]

Ah this has been the summer of learning to make jam for me, this is the best idea yet (although I'd probably also have a hibiscus cocktail while putting it up!)

[Cherylptw]

Now that I think of it, this "jam" would be good over a savory cheesecake served the same way (with crackers, etc) and why stop there, why not fill crepes with it and maybe a bit of marscapone or a sprinkling of cojita cheese and a dusting of powdered sugar to garnish. Or spread some hot biscuits with it and sandwich a piece of country ham. Perhaps even make a shortcake with it of biscuits, mascerated berries and hibiscus jam/jelly. Take that a step further and make a trifle of sponge cake, hibiscus pudding or pastry cream and some fresh fruit.

[Zalbar]

ice cream

[coll]

Unfortunately I got rid of my ice cream maker when I moved. But there must be some other desserts that would benefit from it?

[coll]

Oh and I just found this, may be more up my alley!

http://homecooking.about.com/od/bever...

[rexster314]

This is using the hibiscus flowers from Austrailia. They come in a jar with sugar syrup and are edible
1 tsp lemon juice
1 1/2 jigger passionfruit vodka
1-2 tsp hibiscus flower syrup
Shake together with ice like a martini
Pour into a martini glass
Drop a hibiscus flower in the drink
Drink the drink, eat the flower

[coll]

I wonder if i could just infuse some vodka with these, and serve with passionfruit juice? Jamaican martini!