First Forage Experience - Nettle Soup

[Braidsta]

Morning all!

Last night I made nettle soup following a very basic recipe. This was my first experience in foraging - apart from blackberries!

I'll try anything, I really wasn't convinced though until the blending stage. Even the smell - not unpleasant, but unusual (to me). To be honest, even at the washing stage I started to doubt it - the fuzziness of the leaves appearing grey when wet in particular almost made me bin them.

As soon as the blender went to work, this stringy, odd smelling concoction turned a rich green, shimmering where the light caught it.

Delicious - well, it was good. Hyped up I reckon, mostly by my own excitement though! I enjoyed a bowl but not sure I'd be able to get through more than that.

My findings were that it was like a parsley sauce, without the creaminess (I had no cream). I recommend it to anyone that hasn't tried it, though I understand time is short as we're getting further into May.

One thing I noticed - it made my tum tickly inside for ten minutes or so. Not uncomfortable, but after eating your first foraged stinging nettles, it does feel a bit "hmmmm"! A tickle, a warmth, a SENSATION... I'm not sure.

Pics included for anyone curious.






Have a goodun

Brady

 

[Braidsta]

Cor seeing the pics on screen, they don't do the colour justice!

 

[cranmere]

That looks very much like watercress soup. I prefer to mix nettles with other greens, watercress or spinach both work well.

 

[John Fenna]

My recipe has bacon and a fist full of ransoms fried off in butter, a couple of spuds to add body and a carrier bag full of nettles.
Once the bacon is fried off add the spuds and nettles and stock/water. Boil until the spuds are falling apart. Zizz and serve with croutons/crispy bacon dust/sour cream/mint