I put some milk in it as well for ds.

duchesse - that nettle soup is GORGEOUS!!

I only managed to get out nettle picking this morning and am eating it now! DS(4) is harrassing me to see if his has cooled because he tasted some and loved it too!

Basically the same recipe as spinach soup but with more prickles. Incidentally, the stings collapse entirely during the cooking process.

I forgot to say- check them for greenfly at this time of year! The greenfly should float off in the sink, but inspection is recommended. I'm not usually too bothered about a few sneaking in but I can see that not everyone likes eating insects...

For about 4-6 people

Ok, go out there with gardening gloves and gather a good carrier bag full (if you like your soup thick) and about a colander full if you like it runnier. Don't take the woody stems or dark green leaves, only the brighter green soft stemmed tips

Run a sinkful of water and tip the whole lot in. Submerge the lot with Marigolded hands or a wooden spoon or whatever you have to hand. Leave.

In teh meantime, peel and chop a large onion or (two small), a couple or three cloves of garlic, and two or three small potatoes (potatoes stop the soup from separating out and give it a bit of body).

Fry the onions and garlic in a big saucepan with little oil or butter (I always use olive oil but use whatever you like) until see-through.

Add potato and fry gently until see-through as well.

Add nettles (using gloves!) and put lid on saucepan. Leave for couple or three minutes until they've sunk down a little.

Add stock cube to taste (I'd recommend vegetable or chicken- beef is too strong) or use chicken bone stock if you make it (excellent use for chicken carcasses if you don't). Top up with water to cover the nettles.

Replace lid and bring to simmer. Simmer for around 20 mn.

Blend with hand blender.

Taste. Add seasoning (eg pepper/salt) to your taste. It will be a beautiful dark green colour.

Serve.

You can stir/swirl some cream in if you like just before serving.

Sorry for vapid directions- I just cook by touch and smell so am not good with quantities etc.

Yes - for the soup (I have a plentiful supply in my garden that is about to get strimmed!)

if you cut them they sprout again though.
agree they are a great vegetable.

There were some nettle recipes in the guardian or Observer w/r mag this w/e, weren't there?

Giorgio Locatelli has a recipe for nettle risotto...

for the soup?

Oh recipe please?

Lovely made into soup at this time of year. Best part is the brighter green tip before they get too woody. My children love nettle soup. Must go out a nettle-gatherin' now actually...

Right, nettle gathering in the morning then!

Yes - if cooked/brewed first!

Thanks, I thought it was getting a bit late.

Would just the leaves be okay this time of year then?

Hay fever that is

My brother makes tea from nettles during the hay season; you could also make soup from them.

I would only take the tips frm the top, the rest would be too fiberous (they are near the end of their season now)

Are older nettles edible?