Eating the touch-me-not grass!

Making Yummy Stinging Nettle Paste

What makes it grow

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 IΒ  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.

Stingers close-up (click image to make larger)

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

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 πŸ™‚

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 πŸ™‚

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!

6 thoughts on “Eating the touch-me-not grass!

  • April 19, 2012 at 8:13 pm
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    Very cool post!

  • April 20, 2012 at 9:06 am
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    Looks neat in the mortar. Not sure about these people who eat it raw though!

  • April 20, 2012 at 11:50 am
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    Shure it’s not dangerous?LOL

  • April 20, 2012 at 7:44 pm
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    I think I’d be too scared to try stinging nettle paste for the first time. Unless I watched someone else eat it and not go into convulsions! I sure would eat all the sunflower nut butter though!

  • April 21, 2012 at 4:26 am
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    I learned about stinging nettles at a early age. We had lots of them on our place, along a creek. Didn’t know about the paste. You were brave to try it. πŸ™‚

  • April 22, 2012 at 4:24 pm
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    I’m sure I’ve been around the stuff, and been fortunate not to touch it. Thanks for the heads-up.

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