I put on my facebook page last night that I was having nettles for tea and Sue from Our New Life In The Country Commented back about what I could make with it. It made me think about the first time I posted about nettle soup, three years ago almost to the day, that was the first time Sue commented on my blog after I got mentioned on Rhondas Down To Earth Blog on her Weekend Reading section. Before then I'd only had a few comments and that seemed to be the catalyst for having much more interaction with people in blogland and I haven't looked back since! So thank you Rhonda and Sue for that memory!
Any way back to the nettle soup! I decided to make use of one of my wild "crops" that is growing on our homestead. Unfortunately to pick it I didn't have to go very far from my back door, the fact they were all picked within 20 yards doesn't say much for my garden really does it!
I tried a different recipe this time, following one from river cottage (find it here) but I have to admit to not being that impressed with it.
We did visit River Cottage once, many years ago before children, for a Saturday night meal and I've been trying to recreate their recipe ever since. I think this is why I'm always left slightly disappointed at my own attempts. This was still nice with a fresh baked loaf of granary bread but it wasn't what I remembered.
Does anyone else have a good recipe for nettle soup? One that might live up to what I've built it up to in my mind!
I made nettle soup once...and that was the last time. Unfortunately, I'd imagine that whatever you do to it, it would still have that nettlely taste, which it's obviously supposed to, but I just have to admit to the fact that I just don't like it. 'If it doedn't work ditch it' is my motto!
ReplyDeletethey taste very "green" if that makes sense. I don't dislike the taste I just wish the soup tasted a little stronger.
DeleteMartin makes a nice nettle soup, he uses the river cottage one, we also found the taste can vary at the time of year and were the nettles are picked. :-)
ReplyDeleteI though these would be extra nice as it was just the tops from all the young plants. the soup just seemed to be lacking something
DeleteNettle soup... nada...
ReplyDeletenettles as spinach substitute... nada also!
Blanched nettles, finely chopped and mixed into cream cheese, cottage cheese or fresh goats' cheese.... wonderful!!
Also blitzed to death leaves mixed into mashed potatoes and served with a bacon chop... the fat being poured into a well in the green spuds... delicious! {Same can be done with sorrel... lemony hit!}
Tim
I'm going to try that mixed with cream cheese option, the wife even said how nice that sounded!
DeleteI just think you have to seriously overdo the garlic and the other herbs to drown out the nettley flavour, I tend to think of the nettles as more of a bulking and colouring agent and pop other stuff in for flavour. Even a few other sad leaves from the fridge seem to help.
ReplyDeleteAnd WOW what a coincidence that I made my first ever comment on your first nettle soup post :-)
I think you're right it is more of a bulking agent! I just remember that comment because that was the start of this blog "taking off" (if it ever has) and from then on I had people commenting on my posts.
DeleteTry a little grated nutmeg in it and loads of black pepper!
ReplyDeleteI never use nutmeg, maybe I should get it out the cupboard and give it a try. Some spices get neglected at our house and some get used too much!
DeleteNettles are on my 'to do' list....in particular dehydrating them and using them as a herbal tea and flavouring. But I would probably not use them in a nettle soup because I would not be able to get my husband to eat the soup, but I would put the nettle leaves in other dishes I cook, sort of disguise them in other words!
ReplyDeleteJust don;t tell him! Sometimes we eat meals out of the freezer and have no idea which animal its made from (normally game when I haven't labled the bag!)!
Deletei don't think we have nettles here.
ReplyDeleteReally! Then don't wish them on yourself they spread like mad!
DeleteAlways love this time of year with the fresh young nettles. Nettle soup, nettle tea and nettle beer. Yum! It is free and oh so nourishing.
ReplyDeleteNever tried nettle beer or tea, both sound good!
DeleteI don't think we have nettles here. Lots of Dead Nettles though but never heard of them in a soup. The bees like em though!!!
ReplyDeleteThey make a great plant food when I've left them in a barrel of water for a few weeks, I use it to promote leaf growth on plants. they are a pain in the neck though but its best to make the best of a bad job!
DeleteI thought Nettles were like "stickers", prickly plants that sting. They must not be though....
ReplyDeleteThey sing like mad but as soon as they touch the heat they loose that ability. when we get stung the trick is to rub a dock leaf on them to stop the stinging, not sure if that really works but I still do it!
DeleteNot nettle soup for me but nettle tea :-)
ReplyDeletePat
A few people have said that now - I'm going to have to try it I think!
DeleteI use nettles in lasagna or manicotti - mixed into the ricotta cheese (with parmesan) -- I'll agree with adding freshly grated nutmeg - it adds a certain something to change the flavor to divine!
ReplyDeleteWe've just finished our lunch. Guess what we ate? Yes, we love nettle soup. Just young nettle tops, onion, bit of garlic, a potato to thicken it and stock, usually chicken. Yum!
ReplyDelete