I spent my childhood in Iowa trying to avoid the nettle’s sting. This bright green plant was plentiful on the land adjacent to the farm ponds and creek beds there. I had no idea this “weed” was something so desirable until I visited my local farmers market as an adult living in Oregon, where it goes for $16 a pound! Once I learned how easy it was to identify and harvest in the nearby woods, I got hooked on nettle “hunting” (taking care to only collect what I need, of course)!
Coveted by herbalists, nettle is a tonic herb that is often used as a nourishing and tasty food, a strengthening and refreshing tea, a support for healthy urinary function with a mild diuretic action*, and as a mild astringent. It contains antioxidants like phenolic compounds, vitamin E, and melatonin. And, based on data from the USDA, nettle leaf powder is probably one of the richest sources of minerals among edible plants!
I enjoy nettle in nourishing herbal infusions, but my favorite preparation is a simple pesto, which works well with fresh or dried organic nettles. There are as many ways to make pesto as there are people who’ve made it, but we hope this provides you with some culinary inspiration. Happy experimenting!
Ingredients
Directions
This pesto makes a tasty spread on bread or crackers, a delicious dip for fresh veggies, or a sauce for pasta. It keeps in the fridge for up to a month and freezes well too. In fact, I like to freeze my finished pesto in an ice cube tray for single servings to enjoy at a later date. Bon appetit!
Pro Tips:
If using dried nettle, expect a darker color of finished pesto. Also, if using dried, reconstitute your organic nettle leaf in warm water for about 5 minutes. Then, a fine mesh strainer makes it easier to remove the small pieces of leaf from the boiling water and also from the ice water bath. If using dried, skip steps 2-7. Add the reconstituted and squeezed dried nettle back into the recipe at step 8.
Some readers have let us know that they tried the recipe but skipped the blanching to great result. While we haven't given this a try, we encourage brave cooks to try it (and taste cautiously). Leave a comment to let us know how it goes!
You may also be interested in:
*This statement has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. For educational purposes only.
Topics: Culinary
Raychel Kolen, blog contributor, originally hails from the Midwest but has been calling Oregon her home for more than a decade. With her master’s degree in journalism from the University of Iowa, Raychel enjoys storytelling in all its forms and especially relishes the opportunities to visit our farm partners in the Pacific Northwest and across the globe, shining a light on the remarkable efforts these hardworking farmers are doing to grow and nourish our beloved botanicals. When she isn’t thinking about marketing strategy or teaching workshops at the Mother Earth News Fair, Raychel can be found adventuring in the outdoors, foraging for wild mushrooms, fermenting fresh veggies in her kitchen, or hanging out with her hubby and sweet rescue dogs.
I spent my childhood in Iowa trying to avoid the nettle’s sting. This bright green plant was plentiful on the land adjacent to the farm ponds and creek beds there. I had no idea this “weed” was something so desirable until I visited my local farmers market as an adult living in Oregon, where it goes for $16 a pound! Once I learned how easy it was to identify and harvest in the nearby woods, I got hooked on nettle “hunting” (taking care to only collect what I need, of course)!
Coveted by herbalists, nettle is a tonic herb that is often used as a nourishing and tasty food, a strengthening and refreshing tea, a support for healthy urinary function with a mild diuretic action*, and as a mild astringent. It contains antioxidants like phenolic compounds, vitamin E, and melatonin. And, based on data from the USDA, nettle leaf powder is probably one of the richest sources of minerals among edible plants!
I enjoy nettle in nourishing herbal infusions, but my favorite preparation is a simple pesto, which works well with fresh or dried organic nettles. There are as many ways to make pesto as there are people who’ve made it, but we hope this provides you with some culinary inspiration. Happy experimenting!
Ingredients
Directions
This pesto makes a tasty spread on bread or crackers, a delicious dip for fresh veggies, or a sauce for pasta. It keeps in the fridge for up to a month and freezes well too. In fact, I like to freeze my finished pesto in an ice cube tray for single servings to enjoy at a later date. Bon appetit!
Pro Tips:
If using dried nettle, expect a darker color of finished pesto. Also, if using dried, reconstitute your organic nettle leaf in warm water for about 5 minutes. Then, a fine mesh strainer makes it easier to remove the small pieces of leaf from the boiling water and also from the ice water bath. If using dried, skip steps 2-7. Add the reconstituted and squeezed dried nettle back into the recipe at step 8.
Some readers have let us know that they tried the recipe but skipped the blanching to great result. While we haven't given this a try, we encourage brave cooks to try it (and taste cautiously). Leave a comment to let us know how it goes!
You may also be interested in:
*This statement has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. For educational purposes only.
Topics: Culinary
Raychel Kolen, blog contributor, originally hails from the Midwest but has been calling Oregon her home for more than a decade. With her master’s degree in journalism from the University of Iowa, Raychel enjoys storytelling in all its forms and especially relishes the opportunities to visit our farm partners in the Pacific Northwest and across the globe, shining a light on the remarkable efforts these hardworking farmers are doing to grow and nourish our beloved botanicals. When she isn’t thinking about marketing strategy or teaching workshops at the Mother Earth News Fair, Raychel can be found adventuring in the outdoors, foraging for wild mushrooms, fermenting fresh veggies in her kitchen, or hanging out with her hubby and sweet rescue dogs.
