Stinging Nettles

Nettles are considered an invasive “weed”, but they are actually a rich source of food that helps rebuild soil fertility by pulling nutrients up from deep underground.

Nettles thrive in nitrogen-rich disturbed areas on farms, in compost piles, and are often found in old homesteads and around gardens.

They are one of the first tasty wild foods to show their face in the spring. As their name suggests, nettles will sting you when they come into contact with your skin. The plant is covered with tiny hairs with formic acid that cause a sting or rash when they touch your skin. It is therefore best to wear gloves and a long sleeved shirt when harvesting nettles.

When nettles are cooked or dried, it neutralizes the chemicals that cause the sting. Nettles are not only nutritious, but they are also delicious. They are a great anti-inflammatory food, a source of iron and many other beneficial minerals and vitamins.

You can use nettles like cooked spinach, which makes them great for including in soups, sauces, and pastas. Among my favourite ways to prepare them are baking them in spanakopita, making nettle pesto, and nettle lemonade.

When cooking nettles, it is important to blanch them first (a quick half minute boil followed by an ice bath). This will take the sting away and then you can use the blanched leaves to make your pesto, add them to eggs, or in many other delicious ways as a spinach replacement. Be sure not to throw your blanched water down the drain because it is now a very healthy tea, or can be a great fertilizer for your garden.