Stinging Nettle Nz Recipes

Think stinging nettles are just a weed? Think again. They’re a delicious, plant with numerous health benefits that can be used in recipes and in so many other ways!

It’s easy to have a love-hate relationship with stinging nettles. While they’re packed with antioxidants and vitamins, their painful stings make you want to banish them from your life sometimes, especially when you’re weeding your garden.

Luckily, while their sting is irritating to the skin, it’s harmless. In fact, it’s thought to help with arthritis and improved blood circulation.

Stinging Nettle And Cucumber Ice Cream?

You have likely seen the nettle plant, scientifically named Urtica Dioica, even if you don’t think you know what it is. It’s native to Europe, Asia, North Africa, and Western North America, but has been also introduced into other areas of the world.

Most people consider it an annoying weed, but it’s a plant that is often used in teas. It has also been used in herbal medicines for years.

My son used to hate that we have so many stinging nettle plants all over our yard. He likes to go outside and play and would often run through a patch of them by accident. He cried when he’d lose his ball in a patch of it and get stung when trying to retrieve it.

Taking The Sting Out Of Stinging Nettles

Over the years, though, he’s learned to recognize them and stay away, when needed. This time of year, when the nettles start popping up again, he offers to help me “harvest” some (with gloves). He knows I like to use nettles in herbal teas, smoothies, and other recipes.

The stinging nettle plant has tiny little needle-like projections all over the leaves and stems. These “hairs” are hollow and act like mini hypodermic needles that inject a shot of formic acid, histamine, and other substances that can irritate your skin. That’s why you may feel pain and/or itchiness after touching them.

Knowing that, makes it seem like it would be impossible to use in smoothies and other foods. Don’t worry, I’ll cover that in a minute…

Stinging Nettle Pesto

It is a good source of vitamins A, C, D, and some of the B complex vitamins. It also has protein, calcium, iron, beta-carotene, and magnesium.

Nettle is thought to help with urinary tract problems by reducing inflammation and increasing urinary output. It may also help dissolve kidney stones! (I have a history of getting frequent UTI’s and like to drink herbal teas with nettle when I feel minor symptoms coming on.)

This useful plant is anti-inflammatory, and may have some antioxidant enzyme activities, and may even slow the formation of certain types of tumors!

Easy Creamy Stinging Nettle Recipe

Extracts of the plant were studied to see if its antioxidant properties could help with oxidative stress that negatively affects certain diseases. The conclusion reached was that it may be a helpful addition to those with diabetes and heart conditions to help prevent complications from either of those diseases.

Nettle can also help with diarrhea. I notice that my digestion is better when I add it to my smoothies every few days!

Nettle is thought to affect the menstrual cycle, by reducing heavy menstruation, which means that it may also provoke uterine contractions that could lead to premature birth if used during pregnancy.

Weed Eating: Frittata With Stinging Nettle

No matter what your health condition is, you should start off slowly when adding new foods to your diet. Start out slow and see how your body reacts before you go overboard.

I guess I should consider myself lucky to have wild stinging nettle plants growing all over my garden, especially in the late winter and early spring. Right around this time of year, the small nettle plants are springing up almost all over the place in my area.

Some people, who aren’t so lucky, actually buy small nettle plants to plant in their garden. I’ve heard it can be found in many farmers’ markets and gardening centers. So, if you can’t find any, it’s something to consider.

Nettle Pesto (olive Oil, Garlic, Foraged, Urtica Dioica)

Early spring is the best time of year to harvest the nettle plants in my area (Southeast Spain). Any time you can find young plants, though, is ideal. It’s best to pick the young leaves before the plants start to flower. Once they flower, the plants tend to become more fibrous and the flavor can change, and the .

I harvest more than what I need when I have access to young plants. The excess leaves can be dried for use in herbal infusions (teas). You can also freeze them for use in soups, smoothies, and other recipes year-round.

To save space, I recommend pureeing the leaves and freezing them in cubes as shown in my post about freezing fruits for smoothies or baby food.

Stinging Nettle Could Provide Pain Relief

I was really surprised to learn that you could actually eat nettle plants. The first time I tasted them, several years ago, I boiled them in water. Boiled nettles are a lot like cooked spinach.

Cooking the plant inactivates its ability to sting you. There are other ways to do it, though, so you can enjoy them raw…

Stinging nettle plants are often compared to spinach because they can be used in the same ways that you would normally use spinach. That said, I think they have a more subtle, lighter flavor, especially when used raw.

Stinging Nettle Soup By Zetycael. A Thermomix ^® Recipe In The Category Soups On Www.recipecommunity.com.au, The Thermomix ^® Community

I knew that nettles were a great replacement for spinach in recipes, but I didn’t realize how versatile they really are. They can be used in soups, rice dishes, smoothies, and even desserts.

You may be familiar with kale chips, but how about nettle chips? Kale chips have gained popularity over the years because they’re salty and crunchy and a tasty way to eat nutritious kale. By subbing out the kale for nettles, you can convert your garden weeds into a delicious snack.

Nettles can also add color and flavor to a simple dip or sauce. This tzatziki-like dip is perfect for dipping veggies and other snacks.

Eating Nettles And Stinging Nettle Recipes

Pesto sauce, my son’s absolute favorite, is traditionally made with basil leaves. Consider switching out some of the basil leaves of your traditional pesto recipe for nettle leaves. Or, try one of these alternative recipes.

I’m sure you’ve heard of chicken noodle soup. But what about chicken nettle soup? It sounds like a delicious, healthy alternative to me!

The epitome of comfort food, risotto is a creamy rice dish that can serve as a complete meal. This risotto, made with vegetable broth, is an ideal vegetarian meal.

Pilau Rice With Wild Garlic And Stinging Nettles Recipe

Traditionally a breakfast dish in Isreal and the middle east, shakshuka is a simple yet complete meal. This recipe is packed with healthy greens including the nettle.

Gomae is a Japanese side dish normally made with spinach and sesame. Here, nettles take the place of spinach, giving an interesting alternative to this classic recipe.

Making beer with nettles instead of grains is absolutely genius, and is an idea that’s totally up my ally. It’s definitely on my “to-do” list of things to try!

Delicious Ways To Use Stinging Nettles

It’s quite common to add spinach to smoothies, but most people haven’t thought to add nettles. They’re a healthy, lower-oxalate greens option for those with kidney stones (or anybody needing to lower their oxalate intake).

Don’t let its sting scare you away, the stinging nettle packs a powerful nutritional punch, and is a great addition to smoothies like this foraged, tropical stinging nettle smoothie.

Similar to my homemade ginger ale, this nettle ade is easily made with seltzer water, and is a healthy alternative to soda pop.

Stinging Plant Offers Insights Into Preventing Pain

This iced tea uses a combination of leaves that is especially nourishing for women. The chia seeds add a bit of fun, and extra nourishment, to this drink.

A touch of hibiscus adds color and a touch of sweetness to a nettle tea, making it appealing for kids. While it was designed for kids, I won’t judge any adults who drink it. (I bet it would be great as an iced tea too!)

Because you can’t normally use nettles fresh from the garden year-round, drying them for herbal teas is a great idea. The dried leaves can also be ground into a fine powder and added to other recipes to boost their nutritional value.

Nettle Recipes And Activity Ideas

Nettle is said to help clear clogged hair follicles, which correspondingly helps prevent hair loss. It may also strengthen hair, add shine, and help against dandruff.

This post was originally published on May 7, 2017. It was rewritten with added information about how to harvest nettle plants, their health benefits, and a few new recipes in April of 2020.

Tracy Ariza, B.A., D.D.S., left dentistry and the United States to found Oh, The Things We’ll Make!, writing to you from the Spanish Riviera. She loves making things herself in order to keep control of what goes in them. While far from perfect, she strives each day to live a healthier, more sustainable lifestyle.

The Most Useful Greens: Nettles In Wellness Recipes And Food * All Pyrenees · France, Spain, Andorra

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it.OkStinging nettles are considered a weed by many gardeners but they have a lot to offer those who give them some space in their garden. They are a delicious leafy herb, the tender young tops can be steamed and eaten like spinach or used to make