1. Choose your nettle patch carefully. I found mine on the bank of the river Severn.
Make sure:
- You are away from dog walking routes (obvious reasons)
- You are away from arable fields (crop sprays/ pesticides)
- The soil isn't sandy - sandy soil gets splashed up all over the nettles when it rains and however much you wash them they will still be gritty.
- There hasn't been recent floods around your nettle patch - the nettles near the bank were covered with sludge.
- Avoid nettles under trees -they suffer from birds and whatever the tree decides to drop.
2. Get the marigolds out to avoid the sting.
3. Pick just the tips - they are the most tender part. The bigger the leaves get the more fibrous they are.
4. Wash them well in water when you get back - again use the marigolds.
Related posts:
How to cook nettles
Courgette and nettle fritters with nettle pesto
Open ravioli of cod, asparagus and mozzarella gratinated with parmesan, wild nettle pesto
Pearl barley risotto with wild nettles, roasted purple sprouting broccoli, artichokes and nettle pesto (This was part of a week long event - scroll down to Thursday on this link)
The BNT brioche crown (that's home cured bacon, wild nettles and home grown tomatoes - an epic)
Beef olive with nettle, sun dried tomato and basil stuffing
Beans on toast (or if you prefer: Homemade gluten free nettle bread with beer baked cannellini beans and nettle pesto)
Irish style potato (and nettle) pancakes for BBC Radio Gloucestershire St Patricks Day
Nettle risotto with grilled scallops and nettle pesto
1 comment
excellent tips! - found this from historyofgreekfood site;
i enjoyed using nettles in some mini-pies i made recently - tasted just like spinach!
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