Nettle time again is fast approaching!!!

[BarleySugar]

I have nettles growing in pots in my greenhouse. Not enough for soup, but hopefully they'll get a move on before my painted lady butterfly eggs hatch into Hungry Caterpillars.

[andyh]

Ive been out this morning and gathered some nettle tops and have now posted my recipes for Nettle Soup and Nettle Risotto.

[Hilary B]

I always used to get nettes turned into milk, when I kept goats. Much of the summer hay was hard to come by and they had to be 'yard fed' or they went off foraging in the neighbours' vegetable patches, so I went into the field next door with my trusty scythe twice a day, the morning cut was their overnight feed.

[Rhona]

I have a recipe for nettle risotto (not dissimilar to yours Andy, but with white wine and parmesan cheese, and no potato) which I might try after visiting the lottie this weekend. Quite a few of them...

[Brengirl]

Organic are you feeling OK today? Touch of sadism in your post I feel.
Seriously - I find a few nettle stings, although unpleasant at the time, do seem to ease my arthritic finger joints.

That is quite a statement Jeanied. I am sorry to hear that you suffer with that condition maybe you should experiment and make a nettle potion. You never know!

[taff]

anyone know if you can freeze the soup? I'm thinking of giving ti a go, seeing as the nettles are almost beyond control in some areas around the polytunnel.

[Nicos]

It freezes fine!
That's what I'm going to do- it's lovely cold too at lunchtime on a hot August day with a big blob of cream, crourtons and chunk of bread

[taff]

oh goody, will try it maybe sunday or next thursday then...

[Sheikh Yerboutti]

They allways taste best in early spring then get a bit stringy and bitter through summer. I add a large carrot and a clove of garlic as well as the traditional nettle/onion/spud formula, and veg stock powder.
Please pick your nettles from a shady area. If in a sunny spot they will most certainly be inhabited by many beneficial insects in either egg or larvae stage. If its egg stage they will be almost invisible unless you know what to look for.