Has anyone ever made nettle soup?

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We've been out for a walk this afternoon and Ds1 noticed that young nettles are starting to appear.

He's very interested in food and asked if we can make nettle soup. So, should I and how?

I did once and it was horrible, but I don't know if I just used the wrong kind of nettle.

I did, however, make nettle quiche once (Roman recipe) and it was very nice.

also my dn made his own nettle tea last summer when we took him camping and claimed it was nice

I made it and despite rinsing thoroughly, it had loads of bugs in it. .

sorry, not much help.

MIL makes it. It is delicious.

DH has done. Not sure of the recipe (there won't have been one), but it involved onions and cream. It's very nice.

You need young, tender nettles that are unlikely to have been peed on by dogs or polluted by car exhausts.

I make it alot, I use a colander full of washed leaves in a poy with some veg stock, a large peeled potato cut into chunks, simmer until the potato is cooked then blend with a huge knob of butter until smooth. the butter makes it go creamy too.

pot not poy!

I honestly thought that was some sort of arcane cooking utensil. Need to drink either more or less wine.

Ptero - when in doubt - drink more!

Nettle and wild garlic soup is very delicious - it is a spring food really though - you need to gather the nettles when they are young and tender(light green). The dark green nettles are bitter.

...are more bitter...

I make it and its lovely.

We also make nettle and chickpea stew, and a rice dish with nettles, onion seeds, and sumac. Oh and use them in dhal instead of spinach.

Quincy - I find that cooked nettles often have bits that look like bugs, but are in fact flower heads before they are fully developed.

yy nettles must be young.

They get laxative properties when they are older.

And wild garlic! Mmmmmmmmm I was just saying today how I am excited about that already

ooh wild garlic is to die for!

just pinch off the top 2 or 3 inches of light green young nettles (wearing gloves!)

Picking them is another of the jobs I make allow DP to do

Wild garlic pesto with hazelnuts and olive oil...

wild garlic is wonderful. Wild garlic bread - mmmmmmm.

If you make it, make sure you use plenty of nettles as they cook down to nothing, a bit like spinach.

Lots of young nettle tops
Chopped onion
Chopped carrot
Chopped stick of celery
Clove garlic
Peeled and chop potato
Chicken stock or water and stock cube
Seasoning
Nutmeg

Sweat all veg (not nettles) in a little butter

Add stock and throw in the nettles after they have been washed and the tough bits discarded.

Cook for a short while until the veg is cooked.

Blend together.
Season.

Return to pan and heat through.

Serve with a swirl of cream and a dusting of grated nutmeg.

Quantities depend on how much you want.

Thank you

Assuming the nettles are very young and tender, do I need to pick the leaves off the stems, or does everything go in?

You can use the stems, but only if they are very young and tender.

At this time of year most of the plant will be like that.

It is lovely, but don't be persuaded to prolong the season by using older nettles, as they tast rather coarse. Nettles; potatoes finely diced; garlic; stock (I like chicken but veggies can use vegetable stock); and any other vegetables you might like to add. Best to use only the youngest plants, or nettle tops if later in the season. I've made nettle quiche before; most people think it's spinach!

Btw, I do like to add a few nettle leaves to a pot of green tea, and it doesn't need to be young ones. Very healthy, and it's great for a hangover .