Nettle Soup
A recipe from biologist David Funge for a delicious, chilled summer soup using the much maligned stinging nettle (Urtica dioica) .
There are some quite vile recipes around, many using potatoes, meat stock and so on. These invariably result in a hideously coarse concoction guaranteed to make your family and friends think you really have lost it! This recipe gives a delightfully sophisticated soup something like vichyssoise.
Caution:
Needless to say, those with allergies should take advice before trying this. Likewise those unable to identify this plant. Avoid nettles you suspect have been sprayed or excreted on by animals (including humans). Make sure they are stinging nettles- the test is simple but convincing. More about stinging nettles after the recipe.
To serve two good helpings you will need:
- Enough fresh nettle tips to fill a normal colander.(harvest top 12cm/5inches in May - less later in season as they become more fibrous). Wear stout gloves and cover bare skin.
- A small nut of butter or 15 ml olive oil.
- Half an onion.
- A clove of garlic (optional)
- Salt and pepper to taste.
- Vegetable stock granules/cube (see later)
- Spoonful of natural plain yoghurt.
- Microwave OR a wok.
- Microwaveable container if using microwave.
How to make it:
- Wash nettles thoroughly in cold water. Adding salt to the water can be an additional safeguard for the fastidious as the osmotic imbalance drives most creepie-crawlies out post haste. They'll be cooked anyway.
- Peel and chop onion finely.
- Peel and crush garlic
- Heat oil or butter in microwave or wok then add onion and garlic.
- Allow to soften fairly gently for about three minutes, then add nettles and stir. Cover
- Cook until nettles start to wilt and give a good stir.
- Add vegetable stock- about three quarters the volume of your cooked nettles and onion.
- Cover and simmer for twelve minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Remove from heat and allow to cool.
- Liquidise until you have an intensely green liquid(important because this ensures no stinging parts remain!) Add pepper and salt to taste (you won't need much).
- Chill right down in the refrigerator.
- Pour into bowls and add a swirl of natural yoghurt. Enjoy!
Nettles are said to be rich in minerals and be a useful source of vitamins A and C. There are also recipes around to make them into a hair rinse. Alas quite a lot of the claims-especially on the Internet smack of quackery. My advice? If you like nettle soup be content to enjoy it.
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