Be sure to wear gloves when handling the nettles … This is now my favorite recipe for lentil soup (and I've tried many). I made a few small modifications. A simple escapade along Austin creek,  below our Northern California cabin. Puree soup briefly so that potatoes are lumpy. I added sliced shiitake mushrooms to mine and also skipped the blender step but did lightly take a mashed potato masher to the pot. Simple and so good! Based on all the reviews, I did the following: increased the garlic to 4, added 1 teaspoon of smoked paprika, added 1 teaspoon of cumin, added 1 bay leaf, increased the carrots by a handful, added 1 cup plus one handful of Yukon gold potatoes, used Tuscan Chicken Stock instead of water (I use stock in place of water in just about all my recipes), used fire roasted tomatoes because that’s what I had on hand, used brown lentils as that's what I had (had no idea there were other kinds of lentils!) Nettle soup is still served in some hotels in Ireland; this recipe is from Declan Ryan, who was chef-proprietor of the much-starred Arbutus Lodge, Cork, sadly no longer in existence. Russian herbalists recommend nettle soup to nourish the blood. Nettle soup, as delicious as it is healthy. I used chicken stock, and Flanken bones to the soup as it boiled. https://www.gettystewart.com/how-to-make-stinging-nettle-soup Sometimes, I dump in 1/4 - 1/2 cup of rice (to make a complete protein as lentils are not a complete protein). Place them in a pot with three slices of fresh ginger and the juice and pulp of three lemons. added 5c stock (mixed water, chicken, beef, tomato, and pork belly juice & 1/4c persimmon wine b/c that's what i had) plus 8 oz of heirloom tomato sauce and 1/2 c fire roasted oil preserved bell peppers (winter canning:), cooked for 35 min then added 1/4c half n half & paprika & cayenne to taste plus 1 TB of balsamic vinegar. I'll make it again and try to follow some suggestions here to improve. Created in the Guangdong Province of China during the Mongol conquest of the Song dynasty and named by Emperor Bing of Song. 1 crushed and minced clove of garlic or 1 minced French shallot. Next time will try sherry vinegar and smoked paprika to give it a Spanish feel. Serve with crusty bread. I added a bay leaf, about 1/4 tsp smoked paprika, and maybe 1.5 tsp herbes de provence as well as a splash of red wine. Add cheese and nettle leaves. I am so glad I did! I must have been about 8 years old at the time. Pureed with an immersion blender, which worked just fine. This recipe is quite easy to make too. I’ve never known her to use anything else. Look for stinging nettles at farmers markets in the spring. [Nettle Soup] How often do you get to cook with a hostile ingredient? Add oil or butter and flour. Return puree to soup in pan; thin soup with more broth by 1/4 cupfuls, if too thick. Definitely add two bay leaves while simmering. Easy, fast, healthy recipe. Good foundation recipe for lentil soup. A few slices of fried mushroom added at the same time only enhances the flavour. Rachel Allen now also teaches at Ballymaloe Cookery School reguarily. Who knows, but not any longer! The wonderful, mild sweetness of cooked nettles is built up and enriched by other vegetables, yielding a rich, creamy, and satisfying vegetarian soup. How to Make the Traditional Alsace Dish. This is a great time to discuss other favourite soup flavours and plan what people would like to make next time. Rinse and chop nettle. Mix the nettle leaves with the onion and add enough vegetable stock to JUST cover the nettle/onion mixture. I'd give it 2.5 forks if that were an option. The next day strain, add sugar and Vitepris (or any other pectin-based thickener). Nettle stew was eaten by inhabitants of Britain in the Bronze Age, 3000 years ago. Simmer for about 10 minutes on low heat. It can also be used in place of “bouillie bordelaise” (copper sulfate) to protect your tomato plants against mildou. Of course you can always opt for raising ladybugs to get rid of your aphids, but sufficient watering (one hour every two evenings here in Burgundy) and an occasional “purin” treatment works miracles. Needed a little more body but overall a good soup I'll make again. Nettle Soup Serves 4 250g young nettle leaves 50g oil or butter 1 small onion, chopped 250g cooked potatoes, peeled and diced 900ml milk 1 teaspoon each (mix, fresh, chopped) sweet marjoram, sage, lemon thyme 1 dessertspoon fresh chopped lovage 2 tablespoons, cream and French parsley, chopped, optional Easy, healthy, delicious. https://www.greatbritishchefs.com/recipes/nettle-soup-recipe . I make soup similar to your nettle soup (but without the rice). My family has eaten this every night (it makes quite a bit) and has asked me to make it again. . The green weeds have been used for nettle beer and nettle wine through the ages, and are currently back on the menu thanks to the trend for foraging — with a simple nettle soup being an indisputably beautiful, British springtime dish. Not only is it used as a fertilizer, but also as an efficient insecticide against predators like aphids or potato plants. Our first meeting dates way back to the 1950s. that's all I really need ha). 191) specializes in a “nettle with garlic” cheese. whole-grain flour, such as barley or rice flour. This nettle soup is a great favourite in the spring when the nettles are young. I was very happy I did not double the tomatoes and am not sure how much the wine or paprika added so may not bother next time. 2 1/2 cups water. A “velouté d’ortie”, or nettle soup, with potatos, oignons or shallots, salt and pepper, topped off with a tablespoon of sour cream,  is a change from everyday fare and you won’t need to pre-boil the nettles, since the histimine and other chemicals are absorbed by the potatoes. 1 Tbsp. “Purin d’orties” or nettle slurry, is an indispensible gardener’s companion here in France. Get cozy this fall with these seven soup recipes from chefs around the world, from Ireland to Morocco and New Orleans. One of the best soup recipe . Isches is only one of a number of localities here in France wrapping or incorporating nettles in their cheese today, but there are also tons of other uses for the plant, all chocked full of health benefits. (This post was contributed by Melissa Keyser.). . It’s pretty straightforward two rise bread dough, with nettle leaves to add character and colour. salt. I stopped using stock or broth (chicken or veg) and now just use water . Having a bowl right now with some fresh baby spinach stirred in. I hope you enjoy this recipe as much as my family did! I had just had my first encounter with Urtica dioica, stinging nettles. Definitely added body. Before I make any recipe, I always read the reviews to gain hints at what others have done, ideas and such. Once picked , preferably using gloves, we can either boil the nettles 30 seconds and throw the first water away –  this removes the stinging agent– or leave the plant in its natural state. Got some raised eyebrows from my BF when I went to puree the soup...but it gave it a nice hearty texture. Our friend Christiane M. has taught us to use them in quiche lorraine. Nettles are widely used commercially in any number of French beauty products, from facials to shampoo. Since the bag of French green lentils was double the amount needed, I used the whole thing and doubled the veggies as well. Friends call the unboiled variety “poivré” (peppered) and to prefer it to the pre-boiled version. The flavors were classic and lovely and we topped it as the recipe suggested. Remove from heat. 1/2 cup cream or plain soy milk. I made it mostly as written but added the tomatoes without their juice, included 2 bay leaves during cooking, and used fresh thyme at the end. Season with … It is lovely bread however the amount of time for rising is several hours, with some small work on it periods. No 2 are alike, but I add thyme, or rosemary, or a tiny bit of oregano, whatever; but I always at least double up the garlic. Chef, Simone Parris, reveals her secrets to health and longevity in her new series of cooking videos. I made this exactly as written and it was a fantastic and very comforting soup. Begin by washing stems, leaves, and flowers. The soup isn't bad--just bland. Of the 11 species of Urtica, 5 varieties grow here in France. Flavorful and beautiful to look at in my bowl. This stinging nettle soup is a delicious puree of nettles, onion, potatoes, and spices and becomes a beautiful deep, dark green. … The second and less direct encounter with nettles came in 1968 while watching a movie by the Italian director, Paolo Pasolini. 1/2 pound stinging nettles; 1 onion 2 tablespoons unsalted butter (divided) Why the heck was I intimidated by this little lentil gem?? Last night was the first time I’ve ever made a homemade soup and I’m absolutely in love with this recipe. I'm Stéphane, join me every Thursday and learn new French recipes. Sure, you could hurt yourself with pretty much anything — drop a head of celeriac on your toes, rub your eyes after chopping chili peppers, stab yourself with a carrot — but nettle leaves are actively belligerent. Excellent recipe! Nettles truly support the entire body including the liver, skin, kidneys, urinary tract, reproductive system and general metabolic function. This was fabulous - had more favor than I expected. Garnish w/ parsley. Photo by Holly A. Heyser. Pour into a greased loaf shaped cake pan and cook in oven for 50 minutes at 180° C.  Check if done by slipping a knife into the cake. In the country nettle tea was also drunk, made by pouring boiling water over chopped nettles, boiling for about 15 minutes, then straining and adding milk and sugar. Because they are neutral in taste, they go especially well with indian spices. Imagine a fresh, bright morning - plants and daffodils lightly covered with dewdrops. To be frank, whatever the home-made soup, I always include a handful of either fresh or dried nettles to the pot. https://www.growforagecookferment.com/stinging-nettle-recipes Again the preparation only takes a minute and it’s 100% organic. For all its ressemblance, the white dead “nettle” is not really a nettle at all since it isn’t a part of the stinging Urtica family. Since the French really pioneered the cultivation of sorrel, I decided to make my sorrel soup a French one. Amazing what you can do with a plant which most of us just see as an invasive weed. A “velouté d’ortie”, or nettle soup, with potatos, oignons or shallots, salt and pepper, topped off with a tablespoon of sour cream, is a change from everyday fare and you won’t need to pre-boil the nettles, since the histimine and other chemicals are absorbed by the potatoes. Winter may be on its way out the door, but on those days that are dreary, or you just want a bowl of comfort, soup … Dry dill weed. https://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/french-lentil-soup-236772 The same “infusion” left on your hair five minutes before your normal shampoo, preferably one for babies, has gained a scientifically tested reputation for treating oily hair, preventing dandruff and even helping grow back hair among balding subjects! So comforting! In any case, preperation is as easy as making tea. I first discovered nettle soup, when I was living in rural Devon. Cut the leaves into fine slices so they will cook quickly when fried in a little butter, then add your well-beaten eggs. Add one liter of water and bring to a boil for 10 minutes. Nettle Soup. Stinging you is their life calling, it is what they were meant to do, and you can hardly blame them. I've made this soup recipe SO many times! I think it's important to chop the veggies to a size similar to your lentils (in my opinion). It must come out dry. Adding too much liquid will result in a watery soup. I used mushroom broth because that’s what I had and it’s delicious. This is by far my favorite lentil soup recipe, our family has dietary preferences and this allows the vegan and gluten free people to enjoy the same pot of soup. Nettle soup; Okra soup; Patriotic soup – a soup boiled with stir-fried leaf vegetables and edible mushrooms. olive oil, sesame oil or butter. 1 cup chopped celery stalks plus chopped celery leaves for garnish, 1 14 1/2–ounce can diced tomatoes in juice. Thanks to Sophie Dudemaine (her book: Les Cakes de Sophie @ Amazon.com) for this great one: three eggs150 g of flour1 packet of baking powder100 ml of vegetable oilsalt and pepper to taste125 ml of milk100 g of grated swiss cheese100 g of grated dry goats cheesea handful of chopped nettle leaves. Add nettle and bring to a boil. Made a double recipe and had to cook a lot longer than 35 minutes to get the lentils soft, but once it was done, it was delicious. Nettle Cream Soup Stinging nettles might sound unpleasant (and they are if you walk through them by accident), but they're also a wonderfully delicious and amazing in this soup. and added one tablespoon of butter along with the olive oil to prevent the olive oil from smoking. I always make these rolls to accompany my Wild garlic & nettle soup. Pea soup; Pickle soup – a style of soup prepared with various types of pickled vegetables Nettle & Wild Mushroom Soup. Nonetheless, in taste, as in all other uses, it remains a perfect substitute. You can honestly taste all the flavors. It had a wonderful thick texture and the flavor was beautiful, more delicate than hearty. As for our horses, if they won’t eat fresh nettles still growing in the field, as soon as they are cut they are swallowed down as quickly as a handful of carrots! Forty years later I’ve learned that you don’t need to be a martyr to add nettles to your cookbook! Let the mixture steep overnight in the fridge. Sometimes I'll add cooked & shredded chicken breast, or diced ham. https://www.irishtimes.com/.../recipes/nettle-soup-1.3034992 Don't use an oily fish. Among their medicinal benefits, nettles are an excellent remedy for arthritis relief. Served after partially pureeing with my immersion blender with balsamic as suggested. Season to taste, then stir in the … Really loved this recipe as a base ~ my pseudo chef partner means i up the umame ante, so made the following changes: chopped everything first 2c red onion 1 celery 2 carrots 1 parsnip 1c plus 1 handful fingerling potatoes 4 garlic 1" fresh ginger. This is fantastic. For all of my other recipes, I prefer throwing away the woody stem and keeping only the flowers and leaves. Add 4 cups broth, lentils, and tomatoes with juice and bring to boil. There are much better lentil soup recipes out there. Some sixty miles northeast of Dijon, in the Vosges mountains, the village of Isches (pop. Add a pinch of dill weed, and stir in cream or soy milk. I've made variations of this a hundred time (I make 3 soups: a lentil, a chicken, and a pasta e fagioli . Simmer on medium heat for about 20 to 25 minutes. Quick, easy and delicious! Ballymaloe Cookery School is Irelands Foremost cookery school, based in a 100 acre organic farm. Nettle was found to be an effective antioxidant and possible antiapoptotic supplement promoting cell survival in the brain.”  In other words, nettles may even combat Alzhymer’s disease! Based on previous reviews however, I did not double the tomatoes. Any lean, white fish works here. I’ve made nettle jelly and tried it both ways. Both have an anti-inflamatory effect on muscle and joint pain. I increased the veggies and added a leek. This easy potato, leek, and nettle soup is a wonderful way to transition between winter and spring. This is the only lentil soup recipe I'll make from now on. Remove the residue and pulverize the mixture. Its not only tasty but also a healthy option. Just in passing, Laura Betti, who played the main character, Emilia, received the “best actress” award at the Venice film festival for her performance in the film. Prepared as instructed and we just loved it. (and yes, it really is THAT green!) The splash of vinegar at the end reminds me of my mom's minestrone - Don't skip this step! Easy to make and delicious. Nettle soup is eaten mainly during spring and early summer, when young nettle buds are collected. You can also mix nettles into polenta, pesto or into your purées. Season with salt, pepper, and a splash of vinegar, if desired. An excellent use for nettles, quiche lorraine. I had so much veggie soup as a child, I’m not overly keen on it as an adult. Blanch the nettles: Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Condé Nast. Ladle soup into bowls. Easy to prepare and so delicious! Use of and/or registration on any portion of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement (updated 1/1/20) and Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement (updated 1/1/20). The balsamic on top really makes it shine! 2 Tbsp. by using one calorie spray oil!!! Thank you! Ingredients. I actually have been making this for many years, and have adjusted it to our preferences, specifically not using the tomatoes. In “Theorema” the main character  returns to her native village, performs a number of miracles, climbs onto the roof of her house and refuses to eat anything but nettle soup! That's a total win! Perfect Lentil soup! Add the nettle leaves, simmer for 1 min to wilt, then blend the soup. My whole family can agree on this, and I have 5 picky eaters. Nettles grew there in abundance, and being so far away from the hubbub of urban life (and almost 20 miles from the nearest supermarket) I became fascinated with the idea of foraging for food, and living more closely with the land. Checkout the first one! Thank you for sharing this delicious soup recipe. All it takes is soaking the entire plant, including stems and roots, in water for one or two weeks using  2 lbs of nettles for 10 liters of water (as fertilizer) or 2 lbs of nettles for 20 liters of water (as a repulsive). This is a dense and delicious dark green nettle soup. Blend the potato mixture using an immersion blender to make a thick soup consistency. How to prepare the plant? Make it when nettles show up at the farmers markets in the Spring. This one looked so good, got excellent reviews and seemed easy enough so I dove in. A sudden sting, followed by a second and still another… Frozen and unable to move, tears streaming down my cheeks and shouts for help, the family  flew to free me from my unsuspected trap. I had to cook about 15 minutes longer for the lentils to be done but not overdone. Garnish with celery leaves. 2 Tbsp. I used shallots instead of onion as that is what I had handy. Stir in nettle powder and cook for 2 more minutes, stirring constantly. I have made this a couple of times now - for a different taste, i add small amout - 3 diced potatoes and use the Greek Mediterranean Spice from World Market and Trader Joes Greek Extra Virgin Olive Oil. so you can actually taste what's in the soup. . Today has been a day of cooking, it was cold and wet. Ballymaloe Cookery School offers a 12 week certificate course and a wide selection … Contains French Green Clay , Its molecular structure allows it to absorb oil, dirt and toxins from the skin and helps to balance oily skin to normal pH levels. 1/2 tsp. Learning to cook French food should be accessible, fun and easy. Heat oil in heavy large saucepan over medium–high heat. This is a mashup between a traditional Swedish nettle soup and a smooth French-style fish bisque. Transfer 2 cups soup (mostly solids) to blender and puree until smooth. Med heat added butter and unrefined sesame oil (not the toasted kind - i usually use olive oil, but decided for different today) and all veggies plus cumin rosemary thyme bay leaf 2 cloves, cinnamon, 3 cardamom pods for 5 min. I made ‘french’ style easy bread today. It's super easy and much faster to pull together than the recipe states. I've made about a dozen times so far. I also added more veggies than called for. Besides the tall stinging nettles (Urtica dioica),  another commonly found plant is the white dead nettle (lamium album). It’s difficult to make it really thick, but even a little runny it’s delicious and, by the way, a wonderful addition to unflavoured yoghurt. Definitely going to keep this recipe for a long time! Just made this today for lunch. Solid, lovely lentil soup. Wild Nettle Soup Published on in One Pot Meals , Soups & Stews , Spring , Sugar & Flour Free , Vegan , Vegetarian For those of you who like to follow my adventures wandering around the world , for the past week and a half or so I’ve been staying with a big, lively English family out in the French countryside, helping with kids, chores, and other homestead projects. Keep sharing such type of easy & tasty recipes... Tasty soup! Super easy to make. I added some cayenne pepper and the 'splash' of balsalmic was more like a teaspoon or more...made it sweeter but definitely still delicious! Let me start by saying that my 15 year old son has been eating this soup for dinner three nights running, and this is the kid who HATES leftovers! . I like just one onion sauteed, then the greens (spinach in my case, or spinach and watercress) and stock and then pureed while it is still bright green. There you have it, a French detox soup only a (French and perfect) witch could have invented. We also mix them with potatoes for the pigs. Absolutely is my go-to recipe for lentil soup. In addition, I use rainbow colored carrots to make it more visually appealing. Rich in vitamins A, C, iron, potassium, manganeseum, and calcium, nettles contain even more protein than soy. Could've served w/ rice, but they were so good that warm pita bread w/ honey whipped butter was perfect. So good! So perfect. Some ideas may include: Butternut squash, Leek and potato, Tomato and basil, Vegetable, French onion, Mushroom Nettle soup is very green but also rather delicious and nutritious. It's amazing! I've never made this soup before - maybe I was a bit intimidated by the little lentil. dried nettle powder. To taste, I added just a little hot sauce and it was perfect! Salt and pepper to taste Will keep the herbs. Nettles can also replace spinach in an omelette. Again soak the plants overnight in cold water and drink them as an infusion and/or apply the mixture locally on cotton as compresses. Then a friend of mine brought her lentil soup to work and it looked so good, so I searched for a recipe with simple ingredients and stuff I had on hand. Nettles and garlic cheese, a specialty from the Vosges region. My sweety was shocked ~ he's never had lentils like this. Boil down until the mass begins to thicken. Nettles are a historic ingredient, in fact 'nettle pudding' has been officially declared Britain's oldest pudding, created round 6,000BC. What to do: Nettles are full of minerals and vitamins which purify the blood. Also, instead of removing some soup and blending it separately, I used an immersion blender for a few seconds which accomplished the same thing. I don't know why I never left a review before. I began by sauting dice pancetta, bacon would work as well. Love this recipe and make it often with added smoked paprika. I took them out at the end and chopped them up and added them back in after the puree. Reduce the calories to 163 a portion (4 portion in this recipe for me!) For those who have farm animals, in addition to their vegetable garden, chopped nettles mixed into bran with water is commonly used here in Burgundy to feed our ducks. What you’ll need: 1 bunch fresh stinging nettles 3 tablespoons butter 1 medium onion 1 pound potatoes salt and pepper gloves! A reminder, however, a part of purin’s efficiency  against insects is the odour given off by the fermented mixture, so think to keep the slurry container at the back of your garden! I prefer the taste of one main ingredient. Owned and operated by Darina Allen the Ballymaloe Cookery School was established in 1983 out of the reknowned Ballymaloe House and Restaurant. I added mushrooms and happened to have a bottle of white wine open so I used that per another reviewers suggestion to use red. Easy to make and i had leftovers for lunch for a couple of days - I love this recipe! Add onions, celery, carrots, and garlic; sauté until vegetables begin to brown, about 15 minutes. Today, nettle soup is mostly eaten in Scandinavia, Iran, Ireland, and Eastern Europe, with regional differences in recipe; however historically consumption of nettles was more widespread.