| No events |
This is one of my favourite recipes to cook for vege. friends who want a wild food dinner and would probably be my first choice if I was forced to host an episode of come dine with me. Tasty and filling it looks great on the plate and there is always something a little daring about the concept of eating stinging nettles.
As a rule I serve it with a couple of salads or new potatoes and a warm tomato sauce but its versatile enough that you have plenty of other options to experiment with.
Like my Cat nettles don't like being stroked the wrong way but with a little care in handling its easy to gather nettles without gloves and still not get stung. Remember the stings grow pointing upwards and outwards so to pull in the direction of sting growth means that the tips can't penetrate and break which is what gives that painful effect that we have all experienced
I should point out in the photo the white flower is three cornered leek a slightly milder wild Garlic
Meanwhile back in the kitchen...........
What a perfect Day for a introductory wild food foray into the wilder side of Arlington Court, a National Trust venue just outside Barnstaple North Devon. On the day I was running regular walks following their wilderness trail and pointing out some of the more popular wild foods and throwing in ( I just can't seem to help myself.) the occasional bushcraft tip, and recipe.
Feedback so far has been very positive and it looks like there will be similar events going on throughout the summer so please check their website for more details.
A few of my fellow foragers on the day asked for some recipes and a book list so over the next few weeks Im hoping to add some of my favourites here and would suggest you experiment for yourselves as your wild food recognition improves.
First off, I cannot emphasise too much that you must be 100% positive of your plant identification before you do anything with a wild plant. 99% sure is not good enough so before the recipes a few of the books and other resources that I use include:
Noticed on this mornings walk that there is a second coming of Hedge Garlic AKA Jack By The Hedge or garlic mustard. One of the three garlics that we have to use over here. As with the other two (Ramsons and three cornered leek) it has a very subtle flavour that doesn't stand up well to much cooking.
Not a full guide to the plant That is still in the making, however out today and picked a handful of these to top up my jar at home. And please be sure to note the warning at the bottom of the full blog.
