[More Cowbell]

It's Nettle season here in Seattle already.
This year I made sure that I picked only the tops with as little stem as possible which made the prep of these greens super easy (no trimming, just soaking).

Tonight I made a basic pureed nettle soup with chicken stock, onion and potato. It needed some heavy cream which I didn't have so I used whole milk yogurt as a garnish. It worked.

Does anyone have other ways they like their nettles?

I might try a risotto with a batch that I didn't use in the soup next.

[Frosty]

I only have enough to steam once or twice in the spring. A friend has tons. I should transplant some more to a compost pile somewhere. You can dry the leaves and add them to soups I guess. If you are blessed with a surplus...
Salsa? I found a recipe whizzing up chopped nettles, garlic, pamegiano, oil and nuts. I would try that, but probably throw in some lime juice too and some heat, that one sounds more like a pesto.
Still snowing up here, the poor nesslehn still buried in the woods. Enjoy your spring treat!

[touron]

It nettles me that this thread has no pictures.

[Mike Collins]

Today brought the first bowl of stinging nettle soup into my life. The shoots with their tender leaves are just coming out of the ground and had a morning frost on them when picked today. Along with salmonberry pies I hope to add nettle soup onto the yearly traditions. Here is the recipe I used without the salt or cream. https://www.thespruce.com/stinging-nettles-soup-2217495

[Stefan-K]

Thanks for the reminder!

I remember on the Napeequa trail schwacking bushels of them out of the way with my poles... and forgetting that I could have been picking a few to add to the evenings meal.

[Slim]

Nettle pesto - really good.  Go for the tender tops.

Nettle Pesto Recipe

[Mike Collins]

Just picked the tender tops for the soup I'll be making later on today. In addition to an onion and golden potatoes I will be adding two cloves of garlic to the recipe.

[Brushwork]

Looking forward to some fresh nettles!

[blendergasket]

I love a good nettles and spring oyster mushroom omelet

[Damian]

[sarbar]

https://www.wta.org/go-outside/trail-smarts/backcountry-kitchen/dinner-1/nettle-pesto-pasta

Nettles are one of my favorite things about Spring It's picking season!

[neek]

Made nettle soup today with shallot, celery, potato.  Finished with lemon juice and cashew sauce.  So good!  Pick soon if you haven't yet.

[Mike Collins]

Second pot of the season is on simmer. ~0.5 lb of stinging nettle leaves, one diced onion, 1 lb potatoes, ~4 inches chopped leek, 1/4 tsp nutmeg, 1 tsp sea salt, two cloves minced garlic, and a couple dashes of fresh ground pepper. Four cups vegetable broth and two cups whole milk.  After simmering I purée it until there are just a few lumps of potato left to give it added texture.

[Brian Curtis]

We had a spinach and nettles frittata for breakfast this morning that was very tasty.

[cdestroyer]

not to get off the nettle subject but sheep sorrel and miners lettuce should also be available , however I am not sure if these plants can be found at lower elevations..