I decided that this is the year that I would try some wild edibles that I haven’t tried before. Stinging Nettle is a pain – literally – but it was brought to this country by the colonists as a medicinal herb and has gone wild and is currently considered an invasive species. Nearly any roadside, farmsite, or disturbed plot of land will have a stand of stinging nettles growing – Free Food!
I started by putting on rubber handed gloves as some of my just cloth garden gloves will still allow the nettles to sting (FYI a baking soda paste will alleviate the stinging). Then I just went out and pulled a few.
You want to steam them long enough to really wilt or your tongue will feel it – 4-7 minutes. I added a dab of butter, salt, pepper, with some garlic sprinkled over it as having eaten it before I thought the garlic would add a flavorful punch and it did. I did throw some leaves into the rest of the water and let them steep a bit for a tea.
So how was it? Excellent! But I think I almost prefer it boiled with the stalks. Tastes akin to spinach and is one of the first plants up in the spring for a fresh vegetable.
The tea has a unique flavor, but not at all bad. Actually, it is better than a lot of the teas I have purchased. A dollop of honey would make it even more pleasing if you like sweet.
I have had them, and they are very tasty (esp. with a little hot pepper vinegar :) )
When the flowers and pods are VERY young and small, those milkweed plants that you planted taste pretty good, as well. (maybe blanch in boiling water, then boil or steam in clean water, if they are too bitter) :)
Good tip Wyzyrd! Will have to try them, thanks!
Think we’ll pass :-) Both of us are however, very interested in growing micro-greens both for ourselves and for open air market sales. Been watching a lot of vids to try and soak up some info for next year or ??? It’s said there’s more nutrition in a handful of broccoli baby greens that several whole plants. Also safer for consumption than sprouts because there’s no mold etc. Restaurants love them too so we’ll think about that possibility also.
Nettle tea is one of my favourites, but it can leave a slightly metallic taste on the teeth. I dry it for use all year round and add dried orange peel which seems to cut out the metallic tang. A dehydrator is not needed; just peel the orange then scrape off all the white pith and just leave it on a paper towel/napkin. It only takes a couple of days at room temperature to become crisp, then I store it in a jar with the nettles.
When picking nettles, I only dry the fresher leaves; the old tough leaves at the bottom go on the compost heap, but don’t, whatever you do, put in any which are seeding. I’m still getting nettle seedlings coming up in my veg beds from a couple of years ago when I just pulled up some old plants and threw the whole lot in the bin.
Thanks Ecomum for the heads up!