Eating nettles.... a question or two!

Rainbowmum · #1 (**permalink**) 18-02-2007, 08:48 AM

I want to eat some nettles

So how long do I have to cook them for to destroy the sting?
I know the young tips are best so what is the best time to harvest them? And has anyone got any recipe ideas? I thought of putting them in my leek and potato soup

Louise xx

smartie · #2 (**permalink**) 18-02-2007, 09:23 AM

Here is a decent soup recipe. Uses young nettle shoots. Obviously you can leave out the sausages if you don't eat meat. I wouldn't recommend using the vegetarian ones. I don't know exactly what the mimimum boiling time would be, though I suspect that just blanching them in boiling water to wilt them would do the job. You can use them in a number of recipes that would normally use spinach as an alternative to that. While checking for the soup recipe I've copied here I've just found an interesting recipe for a nettle risotto that I might try.

Nettle Soup Recipe
Ingredients - weights and measures conversion chart

900 grams (2lb) young nettle tips
900 grams (2lb) spinach
850ml (1.5pt) chicken or vegetable stock
cold milk
4 cold cooked sausages (vegetarian sausages can also be used)
3tbs soured cream
3tbs flour
salt and pepper to taste

Method

Wash the nettles and blanch with boiling water. Wash the spinach and add to the nettles. Pour the hot stock over the nettles and spinach in a saucepan. Season and simmer for 45 mins adding more stock if needed. Leave soup to cool and blend in blender. Mix the flour to a smooth paste with some cold milk. Add this to the soup and bring back to the boil. Chop the sausages into small rounds and add to the soup. Swirl in the sour cream just before serving.

1 maan and his dog · #3 (**permalink**) 18-02-2007, 09:26 AM

They are at their best when young and tender...Cook as you would something like spinage...
Steaming is good... The sting will be destroyed as soon as heated....
For more detailed info try Ray Mear's website.....

Be Careful when picking and make sure they are not from the roadside as they could contain chemical residue from either vehicles or chemical sprays...

Gill Catton · #4 (**permalink**) 18-02-2007, 10:00 AM

Haven't cooked with nettles yet but have cooked with dead nettles where i just rounghly chopped some and slung them in curfry as I might some spinach or peppers, they were lovely, a mild but pleasant flavour amongst the curry spices.

Adam Cheeseman · #5 (**permalink**) 18-02-2007, 10:31 AM

If you're feeling a bit adventurous you can eat the tips straight off the plant when young, very nutty flavour.

The nettle eating world championship contestants have to eat all the leaves raw straight off the plant - ouch. It also turns their tongues black.

As for cooking - treat the same as spinach. Also nice in salads.

Cheers,

Adam

nightshade · #6 (**permalink**) 18-02-2007, 12:28 PM

If nettle soup is not to your taste you can always dye cloth with them

Kayleigh · #7 (**permalink**) 18-02-2007, 04:32 PM

The Cornish cheese yarg is wrapped in nettle leaves. Its lovely

mrs fish · #8 (**permalink**) 18-02-2007, 05:22 PM

The young leaves make a lovely tea, just put a handful in a tea pot and brew for 5mins, they are a good antihistamine.

I have a book called "How to enjoy your weeds" it has recipes for
nettle wine
creamed nettles
porridge
soup
beer

Nettles are also like comfrey and make a good liquid fertiliser

Let me know if you want any of the above recipes

Paul mabbott · #9 (**permalink**) 18-02-2007, 06:14 PM

What the heck is 'curfry'?
As with other comments, basically treat the nettles as green veg - kale, broc, green cabbage - and use it in place of them in any other recipe. You don't need to wear gloves once it's in the cooking!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gill Catton

Haven't cooked with nettles yet but have cooked with dead nettles where i just rounghly chopped some and slung them in curfry as I might some spinach or peppers, they were lovely, a mild but pleasant flavour amongst the curry spices.

Gill Catton · #10 (**permalink**) 18-02-2007, 07:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paul mabbott

What the heck is 'curfry'?
As with other comments, basically treat the nettles as green veg - kale, broc, green cabbage - and use it in place of them in any other recipe. You don't need to wear gloves once it's in the cooking!

Curses!! slipped throug the net that one! I had already changed it from saying 'carry' (obviously it should have read curry) i'm not sure which is worse! Apologies for lack of proof reading!!!

Tim Chilcott · #11 (**permalink**) 18-02-2007, 07:41 PM

Chop some garlic and onions and fry in a little oil with white mustard seeds and whole cumin.
Drop in some par-boiled, halved potatoes and then a washed bunch of young nettle tips. If you don't drain these too much after washing them there is enough water left in them to cook them.
Stir in some curry powder.
Cover the pan for 7 or 8 minutes.
Season to taste and then serve.
Yummy

better than saag aloo from the Ruby Murry House

Rainbowmum · #12 (**permalink**) 18-02-2007, 10:37 PM

Yummy thanks for all those tips guys.
Been out with a friend today who has been showing me wild stuff I can eat. We ate some sorrel and hawthorn leaves. Very tasty and I look forward to harvesting my free salads now...that and nettle curry!!

Paul mabbott · #13 (**permalink**) 19-02-2007, 09:19 AM

As happens! Hadn't considerd that - thought it might be something like stirfry .....

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gill Catton

Curses!! slipped throug the net that one! I had already changed it from saying 'carry' (obviously it should have read curry) i'm not sure which is worse! Apologies for lack of proof reading!!!

Gill Catton · #14 (**permalink**) 19-02-2007, 09:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paul mabbott

As happens! Hadn't considerd that - thought it might be something like stirfry .....

Oh I hadn't thought of that, I could have claimed it as a crazy new fusion cooking term! Some sort of curry stirfry hybrid!!

Paul mabbott · #15 (**permalink**) 19-02-2007, 10:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gill Catton

Oh I hadn't thought of that, I could have claimed it as a crazy new fusion cooking term! Some sort of curry stirfry hybrid!!

.... or that you're cooking dog .....

Gill Catton · #16 (**permalink**) 19-02-2007, 10:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paul mabbott

.... or that you're cooking dog .....

Ooooogghhhhhhh that's a reach!!! hee hee

C C · #17 (**permalink**) 19-02-2007, 11:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mrs fish

The young leaves make a lovely tea, just put a handful in a tea pot and brew for 5mins, they are a good antihistamine.

I have a book called "How to enjoy your weeds" it has recipes for
nettle wine
creamed nettles
porridge
soup
beer

Nettles are also like comfrey and make a good liquid fertiliser

Let me know if you want any of the above recipes

My nan makes me Nettle and Dandelion pop, i tell here i like it , but its orful. But my dad likes it when it is turned to wine.

Steph

Jacky · #18 (**permalink**) 21-02-2007, 11:56 AM

Nettles can also be used to sting the hands where arthritis is painful as the body then attacks that instead of itself.

Also, I use it as a hair conditioner. Pour boiling water over the leaves, wait 5 minutes then drain. Let the water cool down then use it as a conditioner - it's not as heavy as conditioners from the shops so for people like me who don't blow dry it's perfect.

Paul mabbott · #19 (**permalink**) 21-02-2007, 03:51 PM

I hope she's not on the group - you don't want to upset a Granny!
I've never heard of nettle wine ......

Quote:

Originally Posted by C C

My nan makes me Nettle and Dandelion pop, i tell here i like it , but its orful. But my dad likes it when it is turned to wine.
Steph

Garden Carpet · #20 (**permalink**) 21-02-2007, 05:48 PM

Here is a link to an excellent site. His nettle beer sounds interesting.

Don’t spray those nettles « Musings from a Stonehead

badgerwatcher · #21 (**permalink**) 21-02-2007, 06:23 PM

When my sons were all young and we all had exzema, I used to make an infusion of nettles, cleavers and vinegar, and put it in the bath water. It was very soothing.

Deer Stalker · #22 (**permalink**) 21-02-2007, 07:55 PM

[quote=Jacky;97042]Nettles can also be used to sting the hands where arthritis is painful as the body then attacks that instead of itself.QUOTE]

I also heard that the Romans flogged themselves with Nettles to warm themselves in our colder climate.

smartie · #23 (**permalink**) 22-02-2007, 08:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by badgerwatcher

When my sons were all young and we all had exzema, I used to make an infusion of nettles, cleavers and vinegar, and put it in the bath water. It was very soothing.

You interest me. Derek has exzema and could do with something to soothe it. Any specific proportions to the recipe? We've always plenty of nettles and cleavers in the garden

henrya · #24 (**permalink**) 22-02-2007, 12:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jacky

Nettles can also be used to sting the hands where arthritis is painful as the body then attacks that instead of itself.

Years ago my then landlady once tried that for the arthritis in her knees. She said the cure was worse than the condition, and never tried it again.

henrya

mrs fish · #25 (**permalink**) 22-02-2007, 01:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by smartie

You interest me. Derek has exzema and could do with something to soothe it. Any specific proportions to the recipe? We've always plenty of nettles and cleavers in the garden

Porridge is very good for skin complaints.
He could try some nettle tea if that is supposed to be good for skin, it is definatley an antihistamine

I buy it from Holland and Barrett in the summer for hay fever.