Making Yummy Stinging Nettle Paste

This weekend I had a surprise discovery when I saw a plant in my horses pen that I had never seen before. It was under the rain gutter and growing so lush and deep green. Being a California native all my life a lush green plant is an attractive site to see in this usually brown, dry and hot dusty area. Naturally I was curious to touch and that is when this electric plant attacked!

I brushed my hand against the soft leaves and I  instantly shrieked back in pain. I was covered with little welts on my hand. At first I didn’t realize it was the plant but after closer cautious inspection I saw it was covered tiny little hairs. I didn’t think that was enough to cause such pain until I identified the plant. It was stinging nettle a plant covered with hundreds of hypodermic needles that inject a histamine and other chemicals into your body causing an instant allergic reaction.

If you have ever been bitten by a swarm of ants this is similar pain. According to wikipedia there is actually a raw stinging nettle eating contests! Not being into self torture myself I decided to get my revenge on this plant some other way! That’s when I decided to bite back and blanch this darn thing! <insert evil laugh here>

After you blanch it or dry it they say it takes away all the sting. I decided to blanch because that keeps the deep green color. The picture below has not been enhanced. It really is that electric a green!

Once it’s blanched you can eat it as you would any other vegetable. I found a recipe for stinging nettle pesto. I really wouldn’t call this pesto though because if you thinking pesto you’re going to think basil flavor and be disappointed. That is why I am not calling it pesto but just plain nettle paste!

Nettle Paste Recipe

I didn’t have all the ingredients to just try a basil substitute so below is what I used instead. I think it came out pretty good if I do say so myself 🙂

Blanched Nettle:

1. Take the nettle and drop it in already boiling water for a minute.
2. Pull the nettle out and stick in a bucket of ice water until cool.
3. Drain it and stick it on a towel and squeeze all the excess moisture out.

Fried Sunflower Seeds in butter:

I didn’t have any garlic either but I did have fresh garlic chives so I used that instead. I also am a little weird in that I don’t like olive oil even though I know it’s healthy for you – I just don’t like the taste of olives! I figure since nettle is some sort of super food that will make up for it 🙂

So basically I mushed everything up to taste in mortar and pestle:

• Blanched nettles
• Fresh minced garlic chives
• Salt and green peppercorns
• Butter
• Fried sunflower seeds
• Parmesan cheese (finely grated)

I hope you found this inspiring!