{"id":1706,"date":"2012-04-19T18:23:16","date_gmt":"2012-04-20T01:23:16","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/eloine.com\/blog\/?p=1706"},"modified":"2012-04-19T18:24:19","modified_gmt":"2012-04-20T01:24:19","slug":"eating-the-touch-me-not-grass","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/eloine.com\/blog\/archives\/1706","title":{"rendered":"Eating the touch-me-not grass!"},"content":{"rendered":"

Making Yummy Stinging Nettle Paste<\/h1>\n
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What makes it grow<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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!<\/p>\n

I brushed my hand against the soft leaves and I\u00a0 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.<\/p>\n

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Stingers close-up (click image to make larger)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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><\/p>\n

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!<\/p>\n

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!<\/p>\n

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Nettle paste<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Nettle Paste Recipe<\/h2>\n

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 \ud83d\ude42<\/p>\n

Blanched Nettle:<\/h3>\n
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  1. Take the nettle and drop it in already boiling water for a minute.<\/li>\n
  2. Pull the nettle out and stick in a bucket of ice water until cool.<\/li>\n
  3. Drain it and stick it on a towel and squeeze all the excess moisture out.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Fried Sunflower Seeds in butter:<\/h3>\n

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    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 \ud83d\ude42<\/p>\n

    So basically I mushed everything up to taste in mortar and pestle:<\/p>\n