Nettle Recipes
Nettles are an extremely nutritious wild edible. They provide protein, iron, vitamin C and a whole lot more. There are studies that demonstrate their effectiveness in treating Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia, UTI, Arthritis, Neuralgia, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Allergic Rhinitis and Cardiovascular Disease. It is also used to good effect for Gout and hair loss.
With so many positive health effects, it is a great addition to have to your diet. I have run a series of Facebook Lives on my page about Nettles. I will see if I can add the videos to this page.
My wonderful audience asked if I had any recipes. So I set about and created a couple of my own. These are a great addition to the diet, along with nettle tea!
Please do share these with your friends, and also tag me in photos of your creations, or add a link to your social media post in the comments below. I love to see how you are empowering yourself to be healthy.
With so many positive health effects, it is a great addition to have to your diet. I have run a series of Facebook Lives on my page about Nettles. I will see if I can add the videos to this page.
My wonderful audience asked if I had any recipes. So I set about and created a couple of my own. These are a great addition to the diet, along with nettle tea!
Please do share these with your friends, and also tag me in photos of your creations, or add a link to your social media post in the comments below. I love to see how you are empowering yourself to be healthy.
Pictured below are nettle tips, you want to harvest fresh nettle tips when the plant is not in seed. So in short, if nettles look like the second image, you do not want to harvest them.
To Prepare Your Nettles
For both of these recipes, once picked, wash the nettles in clean water. Keep swishing them in the fresh water and then straining and rinsing again. When they are clean the water will run clear without bugs, debris or grit. Before using in the following recipes, place the washed nettles in a pan of boiling water and simmer for about 5 minutes, strain well.
NOTE - the water from washing and cooking (once cooled) can be used to water your vegetables in the garden as it is rich in nutrients. Please also note that the nettles smell odd during the initial blanching process, but taste amazing when cooked in the dish.
Once the nettles are blanched and strained, there will still be water in there. So leave until cooled enough to handle and squeeze the extra moisture out (don't worry, they will not sting now they have been cooked!).
NOTE - the water from washing and cooking (once cooled) can be used to water your vegetables in the garden as it is rich in nutrients. Please also note that the nettles smell odd during the initial blanching process, but taste amazing when cooked in the dish.
Once the nettles are blanched and strained, there will still be water in there. So leave until cooled enough to handle and squeeze the extra moisture out (don't worry, they will not sting now they have been cooked!).
Sweet Nettle Soup
This is a variant of several recipes that I have seen, though with the twist of using sweet potato instead of regular white or red potato.
I like to work with inspiration rather than a fixed idea of specific quantities or ingredients. So please do relax and enjoy making this highly nutritious meal.
Ingredients
Two large sweet potatoes (or more if you have a large haul of nettle)
A small colander full of nettle tops (you can make up the amount with some spinach, chard tops, or other mild greens).
A heaped teaspoon full of chopped garlic
1 large leek /onion / handful of spring onions - prepared and chopped
A little olive oil (or what ever oil you prefer to use
A stock cube (I like Kallo vegetable, but use what you prefer)
optional - a good pinch of mixed herbs
Method
In a pan, gently sweat the leek / onion with the garlic in the warmed oil.
When gently browned, add the sweet potato and sweat for an additional 5 minutes.
Make up the stock to 1.5 pints. Adjust to more of less if you want a really thick soup, or a thinner soup.
Add the stock simmer the ingredients until the sweet potato is tender.
Add the blanched nettles (see "to prepare your nettles" above) and herbs if using, and cook for a further 5 minutes
Blend
Enjoy with either savoury herby scones or your favourite soda bread and a garnish of salad.
Really simple and nutritious soup
I like to work with inspiration rather than a fixed idea of specific quantities or ingredients. So please do relax and enjoy making this highly nutritious meal.
Ingredients
Two large sweet potatoes (or more if you have a large haul of nettle)
A small colander full of nettle tops (you can make up the amount with some spinach, chard tops, or other mild greens).
A heaped teaspoon full of chopped garlic
1 large leek /onion / handful of spring onions - prepared and chopped
A little olive oil (or what ever oil you prefer to use
A stock cube (I like Kallo vegetable, but use what you prefer)
optional - a good pinch of mixed herbs
Method
In a pan, gently sweat the leek / onion with the garlic in the warmed oil.
When gently browned, add the sweet potato and sweat for an additional 5 minutes.
Make up the stock to 1.5 pints. Adjust to more of less if you want a really thick soup, or a thinner soup.
Add the stock simmer the ingredients until the sweet potato is tender.
Add the blanched nettles (see "to prepare your nettles" above) and herbs if using, and cook for a further 5 minutes
Blend
Enjoy with either savoury herby scones or your favourite soda bread and a garnish of salad.
Really simple and nutritious soup
Nettle Risotto
This is really yummy, and again is inspired by several recipes I have explored.
Ingredients
1 large onion / or alternative onion ingredient
2 teaspoons full of chopped garlic
a splash of oil
1 measuring cup of rice (I used basmati as that is all I had to hand). Washed and strained.
900ml of water
1 stock cube (I like Kallo vegetable stock cubes)
seasoning to taste
1 small colander full of nettle tops, prepared as above and once cooled and squeezed, chopped into smaller pieces.
OPTIONAL - chopped cooked chicken, cooked peas, or other cooked and ingredients you feel you would like with this recipe.
Method
In a large base pan or frying pan, gently fry the onion and garlic in the oil until lightly golden and softened.
Make up the stock.
Add the rice and coat in the onion/ garlic mixture, along with optional seasoning.
Gently add the stock a little at a time, stirring in until the water has been absorbed. Keep adding stock a little more at a time until it has all been absorbed and is a creamy rice mixture.
Add the chopped cooked nettles, and stir through until warmed sufficiently (along with any other optional ingredients above).
Serve with a leafy salad and enjoy.
Be inspired
Please be inspired with these recipe bases. Comment below with how you get on, and how you have been inspired to alter teh recipe and make it into something else. I would love to see your creations.
Keep well, stay safe and enjoy the moment.
Keep well, stay safe and enjoy the moment.