First harvest of the year - nettles!

[clothmama]

After doing some research to the benefits of nettle tea as a cold / immune support J went out and harvested some from the garden yesterday and made us some nettle tea! Was surprisingly good and he is currently making me some more! I think we are going to harvest it as we see it and dry it so we can have our own nettle tea all year around (apparently the young spring stuff is the best).



Has anyone else tried this?

Great with the first harvest
You can also make a fantastic pesto with nettle

Great with the first harvest
You can also make a fantastic pesto with nettle

@aeseldyr
can you share the recipe??
Does it taste v different to regular pesto??

Great with the first harvest
You can also make a fantastic pesto with nettle

@aeseldyr
can you share the recipe??
Does it taste v different to regular pesto??

This is the recipe I got from my work:
A few handfuls of nettles (use the fresh new shoots).
½ garlic clove.
1 tablespoon parmesan cheese (according to taste - used 2-3 tbs when I tried and it was )
3-4 walnuts or 1 tablespoon toasted pine nuts.
Lemon juice to taste (just a tiny bit)
Olive oil to taste and desired consistency.
A little salt and pepper.

Pick the young nettle shoots (use gloves). Rinse them thoroughly and pour on boiling water and let it sit for about 5 minutes, and pour off the water.
Blend it all - add the oil and lemon juice a little at a time until the pesto has the wanted consistency.

IMO its better than the basil kind
Nettle is really healthy and contains Iron and vitamin C. Are you in loss of iron in the diet, you can correct this imbalance by eating nettle or drinking nettle tea.

What do young nettle shoots look like??

What do young nettle shoots look like??

Light green and a bit softer than the old darker green ones - they come in the early spring (in Denmark March-April)

It is posible to use "older" leaves but its just best with the young new ones. Our natureguide at my work says you should take them before they bloom - I don't know if it has anything to do with taste or something else