Nettle soup ?

[sarahkeast]

Dog and I are just back from the park with 3 bags full of nettle tops

I am going to put some into a big bucket to make plant food, but was wondering about making some soup or something this evening with the rest. all invited to tryout of course

Any recipes, tips etc ?

[Green Aura]

I keep mine very simple.

Wash your nettles, then bung them in a pan of good stock (chicken/veg...) with a couple of chopped potatoes and onions and seasoning. You can add any herbs that take your fancy. Cook til the spud is dropping, blitz with a hand blender. Check for seasoning and enjoy!

A dob (technical term) of cream or sour cream is fab to stick in when serving.

[sarahkeast]

Thanks Maggie, that was pretty much what I was thinking of. Quantities ? I think I have a couple of potatoes so that will determine the rest.

Wish kids were home to torture with it. Altho there are plenty of nettles left still....

[Carltonian Man]

Mmm love nettle soup. Sarah, if you have plenty you could cream them using a recipe for creamed spinach. It goes really well with pasta (and freezes well), we’ve been mixing it with cooked ground beef and throwing in a handful of cashews for crunch before serving.

PS if you're boiling the nettles but not using the liquid, it can be watered down and used as plant food

[sarahkeast]

I can here the pot bubbling away, half a bag of nettles, 5-6 spuds, couple of onions and some garlic.

Fingers crossed it is as good as you say.

[grahamhobbs]

We live on nettles earlier in the month, at this time we are also using up the last of the celeriac leeks and parsnips, all go particularly well with nettles and some sautéed onions, whizzed up as a soup.

we have also learnt that in Albania they make a variation of borek, usually spinach and cheese in filo pastry, substituting nettles for spinach. we are trying this over the weekend.

[Penny Lane]

Oh, I'm definitely going to have a go at making nettle soup. Thanks for the recipe ideas