Nettle soup

[johntywino]

Two weeks ago I made a pot of nettle soup....It was REALLY NICE...So nice in fact that the following week I made another potful (just as nice)Anyway,funny thing is,I really suffer day and night with low back pain,and it's GONE.....I can't think of anything else I have done differently, so I've just done ANOTHER pot full!!! If anyone wants to try it, here goes..For a LARGE potful, half a carrier bag of nettle tops,washed, two med. spuds chopped,2 med.onions chopped 3/4 pint stock (I used chicken stock cubes) bring to boil and cook gently till cooked, then blitz into soup (or eat as it is probably).There is other thing like carrots,cream,etc but I find the above plenty nice enough.....TIP, wear gloves to pick,wash and put in the saucepan....After that they are sting free. For starters you could do 1/4 bag, or, if you don't like soup just cook as cabbage and eat!!!!

[B00]

I'm intrigued, what do nettles taste like? Do they taste similar to anything else or do they have their own distinctive taste?

[shaneystar2]

Nettles are supposed to have anti-inflammatory properties .Perhaps that's why your back feels better :)

[LoftyLottie]

I shall try it. Mr LL had it a lot as a child (made with young nettles). We are surrounded by stinging nettles on the farm verges!!

apparently rubbing stinging nettles into affected areas is good for arthritis as well. But daren't try that!!

[B00]

But their taste???

[snags]

''After that they are sting free''

I reckon B00 could chew on them straight from the ground without feeling any pain ;-p

[B00]

you're cruisin' for a bruisin' you southern jessie (though you do have remarkably clear skin- why is that?)

[LoftyLottie]

Apparently tastes like Spinach BOO. I love spinach!!

http://www.herbalreme...m/StingingNettle.html

Apparently good for kidneys. Perhaps your back pain was from midneys john.

[LoftyLottie]

or even 'kidneys'

[B00]

Oooo i like spinach too!

[redman41]

Just looked in Health Book which I have about Nettles
They are... Anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, circulatory stimulant, detoxifying, diuretic, lowers blood sugar and a tonic.
Good stuff by the sound of things.
BOO get some on the way home from the Co-op ! :-0

[LoftyLottie]

I am definitely going to make some at the weekend. Would be nice with added creme fraiche and black pepper methinks! Nettles are nice and young at the moment.

[snags]

''BOO get some on the way home from the Co-op''

No need... probably has a load of them growing around that burnt out car at the bottom of that tip she calls a garden...

<runs away quickly>

[B00]

Oi CD, control Snaggles!

I'm definitely intrigued. Would it matter where you got from? Don't have to be from from a country hedgerow or anything do they? I'm assuming as long as you wash them thoroughly it doesn't matter?

[mccfluff]

get the dog to pee on them first boo, it adds to the flavour

[B00]

Beautiful mental image there McFluffy!

That's a thought, do dogs pee on nettles? And do they get stung if they do?

[China Doll]

Don't hit him Boobies.. His skin colour doesn't match mine so he'll have to get a completely different cover up stick and then he'll take even longer to get ready before he goes out....

[snags]

''His skin colour doesn't match mine''

You're right about that 'bluey'...

[NoMercy]

Nettles are an excellent laxative and diuretic. Could that have anything to do with the alleviation of your lower back pain?

[LoftyLottie]

BOO, The nettles around me are likely to have been sprayed with weedkiller at some point, but I still have plenty in the garden. Quite honestly I wouldn't fancy them from around a dirty piece of wasteland or at the side of a road that dogs use as a loo. But I suppose as long as they are washed well it shouldn't matter. They should be young healthy looking nettles though. Old ones are tough. Mr LL told me that and he has had loads of the stuff!!

[johntywino]

I just take the top 2"out as they are the tenderist.I can't really say WHAT they taste like,just that they are nicer than cabbage or sprouts. I suppose they could be on a par with spinach. I grow a lot of that but still prefer nettles. Incidentally I have had a bad back since a back op in 2002,and it's a very nice feeling to be rid of it, although I think that like painkillers when it wears off it will be back! It should be tried just for the taste. If anyone tries it let us all know what you thing....it could set a trend! John