Stinging Nettles Soup recipe

Often overlooked as a roadside weed, this plant is a super-food. In the past this plant staved off starvation for Germans at the end of WWII.  Nettles boost the immune system and are an ancient treatment for arthritis

So full of minerals and vitamins. Just make sure you use gloves when you pick as the tiny needles prick. But when boiled or cooked, the needles recede and the plant tastes soewhat like spinach. 

Stinging Nettles Soup

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup butter
• 3 cups sliced onions
• 3 cups potatoes, cut into chunks
• 3 cups chicken stock
• 1 ounce nettles leaves
• Small bunch of chives, snipped
• Salt and freshly ground pepper
• Heavy cream, to serve

 
Directions:

• Melt the butter in a large saucepan. Add the sliced onions, cover and cook for about 5 minutes until just soft.
• Add the potatoes to the saucepan with the chicken stock, cover and cook for 25 minutes longer.

Wearing latex gloves, remove the nettles leaves from their stems. Rinse leaves under cold running water, dry on paper towels. Add to the saucepan and cook for 5 minutes longer.

Ladle the soup into a blender or food processor and process until smooth. (I just keep the soup in a pot and used an immersion blender, love ‘em.) Return to a clean saucepan and season well.

Stir in the chives and serve with a swirl of cream and a sprinkle of pepper.

 Source:  Cookography blog

Stinging Nettles book:  for more information on Nettles; history how to grow, medicinal uses, and more recipe, click below: