NETTLES: Our local super food!
Stingers. Annoyance or culinary wonder? MEDICAL HERBALIST Kristine De Block explains the benefits of foraging for nettles to replace your regular herbal tea.
Nettle can be found pretty much everywhere in the UK in the Spring and Summer, and although it is considered a pesky weed by most, to us herbalists it is a deeply nourishing plant, steadily restoring vitality, energy and health with long-term use.
WHY SO GOOD?
It is rich in iron, calcium, magnesium, vitamin B, vitamin K and chlorophyll, and this makes nettle an excellent herb for those recovering from anaemia, malnutrition, prolonged illness and much more. It is used for arthritic joints, restores a healthy glow to pale skin, helps lessen hay fever symptoms and is a great supportive herb for those with asthma.
HOW TO HARVEST NETTLES
You can get out there and pick your own nettles during Spring. The young plants are tall enough to gather by mid March. Harvesting the tops will encourage the stalks to grow new, tender leaves, allowing you to use freshly picked nettle until the end of May, when the plant begins to flower.
When you go out foraging for nettle, make sure to wear gloves, and bring along scissors and a wicker basket. Look for the tallest, healthiest plants and snip off the top leaves, choosing to harvest only in abundant areas of growth.
MAKE YOUR OWN HERBAL TEA
When you get home, wash and cover the leaves with water, bring to a boil and simmer gently for 10 to 15 minutes. This will stop the sting and leave you with a wonderfully nourishing ‘green tea’. Enjoy on a daily basis for good health!
Nettles can also be used to make a range of other foods, including:
NETTLE PESTO RECIPE
Ingredients
Four tablespoons of pine nuts, walnuts, or other nuts/seeds you like
120g of fresh nettle leaves
60g grated organic parmesan (or a vegan cheese!)
Half a teaspoon of finely ground salt, or to taste
Two peeled organic garlic cloves, chopped finely
One cup of organic extra virgin olive oil
Directions
Toast your seeds and nuts for about a minute until golden brown.
Remove from heat.
Bring large pot of water to boil.
Set aside a large bowl of iced water.
Once water boils, carefully place your nettles into boiling water
Blanch the nettles for 2 minutes, this removes the sting.
Remove nettles from boiling water and place in the bowl of iced water to keep its bright colour.
Turn off heat and let the nettles cool for about 5 minutes
Remove them by the handful and squeeze out water.
Reserve the water for boiling your pasta, if you will be using the pesto as a pasta sauce. It also makes a nutritious tea.
Place the squeezed nettles on a kitchen towel to dry.
Combine your nettles and remaining ingredients (except for the olive oil) in a blender.
Blend until all your ingredients are well mixed and form a smooth paste.
With the blender on, slowly pour in your olive oil until the desired consistency is reached.
Use immediately, refrigerate, or freeze. Enjoy!
>>> COOL NETTLE FACT
Nettle gives both male and female flowers on the same plant, and their pollination habit is quite noticeable. As the male flowers uncoil, they fling their pollen into the air to be caught by the females, who produce the nettle seed.
By Kristine De Block
Contact details:
Kristine De Block
The Crafty Herbalist,
Tel: 07821 774 286
Email: Kristine@thecraftyherbalist.org.uk
Website: www.thecraftyherbalist.org.uk