In my previous blog post, I delved into the intriguing world of stinging nettles, often overlooked despite their remarkable nutritional and medicinal properties. Today, as these resilient plants flourish, I invite you to join me in exploring a delicious and budget-friendly culinary adventure; cooking with stinging nettles. Don't forget your gloves, though!
Imagine a vegetable dish that not only surprises with its depth of flavour but also packs a nutritional punch comparable to steamed callaloo or pumpkin leaves. This is what awaits when you embrace the potential of stinging nettles in your kitchen.
The journey begins with the young, tender leaves of the stinging nettle. Far from their prickly reputation, these leaves offer a rich, earthy taste that can transform ordinary dishes into extraordinary culinary experiences. From steamed vegetables to hearty soups and creamy patés, the possibilities are as vast as your imagination.
As the season ushers in an abundance of nettles, I eagerly gather these tender leaves to create a dish that stands proudly alongside Caribbean favorites like callaloo or African pumpkin leaves. Today, I'm excited to share this underrated gem of an ingredient with you, adding a flavourful twist to your culinary repertoire.
Without further ado, let's dive into this simple yet impressive stinging nettle vegetable recipe that will leave your taste buds and your body nourished and satisfied.
Beyond its stinging reputation lies a culinary delight waiting to be explored. The young, tender leaves of the stinging nettle are not only edible but also boast a rich flavour perfect for elevating dishes such as steamed vegetables, soups, and patés.
Indeed, now that nettles are flourishing, I eagerly harvest the young tender leaves to create a steam vegetable dish that rivals the likes of callaloo or even pumpkin leaves in its depth of flavour and nutritional value. This recipe incorporates this underrated ingredient into your culinary repertoire.
Deliciously Nutritious Potent Nettle Recipe
Ingredients
500g Fresh Nettles or as many as you can pick
1-2 red diced onions
2-3 crushed garlic cloves
1/4 teaspoon Herbamare or Himalayan salt
Organic olive oil to dress
Garnish
Finely chopped sweet pepper or tomatoes
How To Make
Either use gloves to handle or pour hot water over the washed nettles to remove stings.
Chop the bunched nettles into 1 cm width.
Add 50mls of water to a large frying pan, bring to boil and add the onions and garlic and saute until tender or translucent.
Add the chopped nettles to the frying pan and ‘fry’ over a medium heat, turning frequently.
Add finely chopped peppers or tomatoes at this point. Turn the heat low and cover the pan with a lid. Steam for 5 for minutes or until tender and reduced in size.
Season with Herbamare or Himalayan salt, add organic olive oil. Give one last stir and remove from the heat. Serve garnished with finely chopped fresh peppers.
Steamed nettles are not only a delicious and nutritious addition to your meals but also a wonderful way to explore new flavours and ingredients in your plant based cooking journey. We would love to see your culinary creations featuring steamed nettles!
Share your photos with us on our Manna House Health WhatsApp ++ 7949 072676, and let's inspire each other to cook healthy and delicious meals together. Happy cooking!