This nettle recipe is a great seasonal twist on a classic pesto
Wild nettles have started sprouting out of the ground as spring is just around the corner. They're essential to some insects and biodiversity, so it's always important to pick them responsibly.
If you have concerns about eating nettles, know that you first boil them so they don't sting you, they taste like a milder spinach, and they're full of micronutrients.
Ingredients: (serves 2)
Nettle pesto:
80g wilted nettles
20g Grana padano (or other hard Italian cheese)
1/2 garlic clove
20mL EVOO
20g walnuts
Salt and black pepper
Method: (see photos and videos below)
First, set off on a walk to forage the nettles. Make sure to bring gardening (or as thick as you can) gloves, scissors and a bag. Choose the younger plants, you can identify them by their smaller size and they must not have any flowers on them yet (these are small white flowers along the stem). Cut the tips off above the 2 leaves that start to get too big, or pinch them hard if you don’t have scissors.
Once picked, cook the nettles in salted boiling water for at least 2 minutes so they wilt and are no longer able to sting you. Drain and rinse the nettles, then pluck the leaves off the stem.
Blend the cheese, walnuts and garlic in a food processor until they form a paste. Add the nettle leaves, EVOO, salt & pepper then blend again until smooth. Taste and adjust seasoning if needed.
Cook your pasta shape of choice, gnocchi or butter beans then stir the pesto through with a bit of cooking water until it coats your carb of choice.
Enjoy with an extra drizzle of EVOO on top, bon appétit!
Foraging Wild Nettles:
More about this recipe:
Nettles are a great source of potassium, calcium, magnesium, iron and Vitamins A & C.
They’re a great ingredient to use for a moment of calm:
source of iron - helps convert tryptophan into serotonin (a good mood hormone)
source of magnesium - supports absorption of vitamin D and brain function, research indicates it lowers mild stress and anxiety
source of UD-1 - facilitate glucose uptake to transform food into energy and stable blood sugar levels support the control of irritability and mood swings.
Save the boiling water to drink as a tea and benefit from all the goodness of nettles.
If you do get stung picking them, my grandmother always swore by rubbing apple cider vinegar on the afflicted area.
VEGAN TIP: Make this nettle recipe vegan by replacing the cheese with 1 Tbs of nutritional yeast and an extra 10g of walnuts.
Photos:
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