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A first step in wild foods...
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Bugs



Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 10744

PostPosted: Tue Mar 29, 05 9:21 am    Post subject: A first step in wild foods... Reply with quote
    

We harvested some nettles from our garden last night. Well, actually Treacodactyl harvested them because I'm a wuss, and I cooked them, standing well back in case they bit me. What an impressive colour they turned the washing up water.

Anyway, according to the word of Roger Phillips' Wild Food I cooked them with a bit of butter and salt and pepper until they collapsed. TD tasted them and said they were like spinach but more..gritty I think, less slimy.

There were only a small harvest so we had decided to use them in little quiches. And I'm still here and actually quite enjoyed them, much less frightening than mushrooms. I can't say they tasted of much but they looked very nice, just like spinach in fact.

So if you haven't tried nettles yet I highly recommend you get doing so. I've now agreed to try them in saag aloo (only of course there won't be any saag...)

cab



Joined: 01 Nov 2004
Posts: 32429

PostPosted: Tue Mar 29, 05 9:45 am    Post subject: Re: A first step in wild foods... Reply with quote
    

Well done Bugs

Can I suggest for your next nettle supper, you harvest plenty of soft nettle tops along with several good handfulls of sorrel, and make a soup based on a chicken stock, thickened with spuds, with the wild herbs blanched in the soup before blending? Grate of nutmeg, the tiniest sprinkling of a hard cheese, and serve with bread. One of my favourite soups.

wellington womble



Joined: 08 Nov 2004
Posts: 15051
Location: East Midlands
PostPosted: Tue Mar 29, 05 9:59 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Right thats it, I'm off out with the dogs and a basket. Even I can recognise a nettle!

Oh bugger - I haven't got a kitchen to cook in. It'll have to wait till the weekend (or whenever the carpenter decides to turn up) I'll go an put towels over the nettles, then.

jema
Downsizer Moderator


Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 28100
Location: escaped from Swindon
PostPosted: Tue Mar 29, 05 10:28 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

One i must try

We missed the fungi club we were going to go to Sunday Having been out rambling Friday there was rather too much needing doing at home Sunday, and some of the future forages they have organised are closer to home.

Treacodactyl
Downsizer Moderator


Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 25795
Location: Jumping on the bandwagon of opportunism
PostPosted: Tue Mar 29, 05 10:41 am    Post subject: Re: A first step in wild foods... Reply with quote
    

Bugs wrote:
TD tasted them and said they were like spinach but more..gritty I think, less slimy.


Not gritty, just more texture in a nice way.

nettie



Joined: 02 Dec 2004
Posts: 5888
Location: Suffolk
PostPosted: Tue Mar 29, 05 5:46 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

I was a nettle virgin too until last weekend, when I made a variation of HFW's soup. I didn't have any rice or spuds to thicken with, so I shoved in a handful of chestnuts from the freezer, and used a dollop of yoghurt instead of cream.

It was luvverly!

hardworkinghippy



Joined: 01 Jan 2005
Posts: 1110
Location: Bourrou South West France
PostPosted: Tue Mar 29, 05 6:52 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

We're looking for Morilles at the moment.

The ground is really appreciating this rainy three or four days.

We haven't found any yet, but we're getting closer.



HWH

Treacodactyl
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Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 25795
Location: Jumping on the bandwagon of opportunism
PostPosted: Tue Mar 29, 05 7:00 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Morels? We've been looking in all the classic places and not found any yet. Mind you we've not had much rain at all this year.

hardworkinghippy



Joined: 01 Jan 2005
Posts: 1110
Location: Bourrou South West France
PostPosted: Tue Mar 29, 05 7:09 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

We still have a lot which we dried last year, they're still perfect.

We leave them open in a warm place all the time. Last year we put them dry in a jar and they went off.



HWH

cab



Joined: 01 Nov 2004
Posts: 32429

PostPosted: Tue Mar 29, 05 8:22 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Good for you hippy. I hardly ever seem to find morels these days But I've found them way earlier in the year than this; it's early around your parts for them?

hardworkinghippy



Joined: 01 Jan 2005
Posts: 1110
Location: Bourrou South West France
PostPosted: Tue Mar 29, 05 8:28 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Last year it was the 5th of April when we found a kilo and a half in one morning!

That's worth a lot of money, but they're too good to sell!

HWH

cab



Joined: 01 Nov 2004
Posts: 32429

PostPosted: Tue Mar 29, 05 8:39 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

hardworkinghippy wrote:
Last year it was the 5th of April when we found a kilo and a half in one morning!

That's worth a lot of money, but they're too good to sell!

HWH


Never think about how much what you're picking is worth. It'll make you gibber.

Richy Rich



Joined: 24 Mar 2005
Posts: 31
Location: Coventry - Warwickshire....
PostPosted: Wed Mar 30, 05 12:23 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

hardworkinghippy you GOTTA tell me when you find some... I have been looking hard for about two weeks and nothing yet...

Been trying to use proper ground - ie sandy soil - bark chipping etc.... no joy yet...

I think we need a good dose of rain followed by a few days of good sunshine.. give all that compost a good rotting...

Richy

cab



Joined: 01 Nov 2004
Posts: 32429

PostPosted: Wed Mar 30, 05 12:27 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Richy Rich wrote:
hardworkinghippy you GOTTA tell me when you find some... I have been looking hard for about two weeks and nothing yet...

Been trying to use proper ground - ie sandy soil - bark chipping etc.... no joy yet...

I think we need a good dose of rain followed by a few days of good sunshine.. give all that compost a good rotting...

Richy


I once came across a whole load of them in Stratford, not far from you. They were on wood chippings all along by a car park. Tons of them. They were late in the season (May, if memory serves).

moogie



Joined: 02 Feb 2005
Posts: 525
Location: Near Bridgend
PostPosted: Wed Mar 30, 05 12:28 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

I'm a bit nervous of nettles and not in case they sting me. But am I the only one who is scared of dogs having peed on them first ? I don't have nettles in my back garden and all the nettels i see elsewhere always seem to have a dog having a widdle.

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