Eating Weeds - Nettle Soup

Nature provides a wide range of free 'weeds' that are bursting with vitamins and minerals. The nutrient levels found in weeds are often far in excess of  home grown herbs and salads.  Don't let this time of year pass by without indulging in the delights of nettle soup and harnessing its nutritional potential.  As the tender new spring shoots rise above the soil it's the perfect time to harvest this plant. As spring advances the leaves become tough and once flowers appear the nettles have passed their peak in terms of nutrients. Spinach has an iron content of 4.1mg/100g and magnesium at 51 compared to  nettles with iron at 7.8  and Mag at 71.  In terms of the healing effects of nettle recipes they are said to be a great tonic during menstruation or the menopause. In Ireland the plant was also added to bedding to treat rheumatism, although I wouldn't advise trying this!

Our children were enthralled by what seemed to them as the totally mad notion of eating nettles and couldn't wait to taste the final product.

I came across a lovely little recipe for nettle soup in a book called 'Cooking Weeds: Vegetarian Recipes' by Vivien Weise which I adapted slightly. Choose plants in areas that you know without doubt have not been sprayed with chemicals or contaminated by animals. Take care not to get stung!

First collect 100grams of nettle leaves by snipping with a scissors and letting the leaves fall into a paper bag. Rinse the leaves several times in fresh water. Chop two onions finely and fry them in olive oil for eight minutes in a soup pot, stirring occasionally, until golden. Add one clove of crushed garlic, 500g of diced potato (I leave skins on) and one litre of water. Bring to the boil for fifteen minutes, then add the nettle leaves and boil for another fifteen minutes. Add 200ml of cream, milk or soya milk and leave to cool slightly before using a hand blender. Add salt to taste and prepare to be amazed (by the taste, not the photo!).

Serve garnished with grated carrot, beetroot, cheese or a dollop of creme fraise. It's delicious and you can literally taste the goodness, chi, prana, or whatever you want to call it.

Comments

[Deborah]

Oh wow! This is right up my alley. Might have to take the kids nettle hunting! ;-)

[white o'morn cottage]

My mother used to tell me about the wonderful taste of nettle soup and also that it is wonderful for your skin. I am going to give it a try as I have an acre of them at the moment!

[Lizz]

Thanks!

Too much fun that you and I posted about Nettles at the same time. I believe our climates are similar. I got a little zap on my elbow harvesting because I got poked by a stick on my bum and wasn't watching my other parts. I had wondered about the sting, so it was OK, to experience it and then I could tell the kids just what it really felt like.

[Rebecca (Sallygardens Smallholding)]

LOL about stick in the bum!
My kids are always getting stung by nettles, do you have dock leaves there? They normally grow beside nettles, both being nutrient loving plants and a sign of good soil. Rub a dock leaf on the sting, its said to help.
Well the day I made the nettle soup my DDage6 was crying with a sting on her knee so I cheered her up by saying 'lets get revenge on that nettle and cook it for our lunch', which made her giggle at the idea that such a thing was possible.

[Lorna]

My gran used to include nettles in a remedy she used to make. She added certain herbs to nettles to make medicine for people with bladder problems - apparently she cured loads of men as well as boys who wet the bed. Not sure why it seemed to be a male problem more so than a female. Apparently it tasted disgusting but I'm sure that wasn't due to the nettles!
All the best, Lorna

[Maria]

Yay! I was just thinking about using nettles for something. We've millions of them popping up in the field with our horse. I know what we'll be having for lunch tomorrow :)

[Tracey Smith]

An excellent suggestion here and of course,now that the dandelions are popping up all over the place, the new tender leaves on those make a visually delightful and tasty addition to any salad.....don't knock it 'till you've tried it!

TS
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