On 10 Mar 2013 at 3:15pm Horseman7 wrote:
I'm going to try making nettle soup. Has anyone please got any suggestions where I can find some tasty young shoots? They need to be in bus or walking reach of Malling.
On 10 Mar 2013 at 3:54pm C,I,D wrote:
Jersey has Jon nettles
On 10 Mar 2013 at 4:51pm old Cynic wrote:
Still a bit early - but there will be loads along the edges of most of the allotment sites. Dont pick from roadsides though - pollution is a problem> Pick the tops and you will need lots of seasoning as they are a bit bland
On 10 Mar 2013 at 7:24pm sceptic wrote:
Like old cynic says, be careful where you pick them. Avoid fields and roadsides that you might think has been sprayed with chemicals. If possible find a wild place that has been untouched and keep it a secret. I have not made nettle soup for years but made properly it is scrummy. I have picked young nettles as early as february so I think any time around easter should be fine. If I remember I used a large onion and garlic cloves to taste, 2 or 3 potatoes, olive oil salt and pepper, stock cube ( chicken or vegetable ) and cream to taste. Let me know when you make it and I will join you for supper. Ha Ha. Good Luck.
On 10 Mar 2013 at 11:01pm Lewes30 wrote:
The old railway cutting is full of them.
On 11 Mar 2013 at 9:15am tobnac wrote:
They're not out yet, but Baxters Field (along the fence with the paddock) is a splendid spot. I made some nettle beer last year, but left it too late and the nettles were too old. Not good...
On 11 Mar 2013 at 11:11am Pete wrote:
Yep, they're not quite out yet. Mine are just starting to poke through, another 4 weeks at least I think.
On 11 Mar 2013 at 2:12pm Old Cynic wrote:
Treat it like spinach and you wont go far wrong :-)
On 11 Mar 2013 at 3:20pm Horseman7 wrote:
Many thanks for lots of positive and informative responses.
I'll let you know how I get on.
On 11 Mar 2013 at 7:26pm bastian wrote:
and wear rubber gloves, it's the only way to pick with out the prick ( and I don't want to get the swear filter up for saying prick).
On 11 Mar 2013 at 8:14pm peasant wrote:
Nettles are a key wildlife resource - hosts to almost as many species of mini-beasts as oak trees. If you are a vegetarian, wash them carefully. If you are happy to eat critturs, enjoy!
On 11 Mar 2013 at 9:17pm brixtonbelle wrote:
don't bother it's disgusting! if it wasn't we'd be cultivating nettles as a crop. I see all the advice on here is for lots of seasoning, garlic, adding cream, etc. You may as well make soup with grass for all the flavour you get from nettles (not a lot).
On 11 Mar 2013 at 10:49pm Sceptic wrote:
It's obvious brixtonbelle that your taste buds are as poor as your post. Bon appetite
On 12 Mar 2013 at 3:22am Peasant wrote:
... and grass has all the nasty silica stuff in it.
On 12 Mar 2013 at 1:13pm Old Cynic wrote:
BB - nettles are bland but only as bad as spinach - and contain loads of iro - also make quite a decent beer!n
On 12 Mar 2013 at 1:46pm Annette Curtin-Twitcher wrote:
Also worth avoiding nettles that grow beside pathways where people walk their dogs, or you may end up with dog wee soup (although if BB is correct, that may well be an improvement).
On 12 Mar 2013 at 2:09pm sceptic wrote:
I quite like pee soup.
On 13 Mar 2013 at 11:08am brixtonbelle wrote:
it's obvious sceptic, that your taste buds are as poor as your post. Still it takes all sorts - if you like nettles and pee soup, who am I to express my own tastes and opinions. Yours are much more important. ;-)
On 13 Mar 2013 at 11:12am brixtonbelle wrote:
old cynic - I don't like spinach either but I'd be more than interested in nettle beer. without the pricks.