Spring is finally here, even if it doesn’t totally feel like it.
Northern California is still getting hit with atmospheric rivers and chilly temps, which has put our “true spring” on hold.
Any moment of sunshine feels like that warm hug we’ve been desperately needing. It’s amazing how much I perk up with a bit of light outside and warmer weather.
With the change of seasons, I’ve been noticing I’m starting to crave more fresh foods like lettuce, thinly sliced fennel, and tender herbs.
My yard is bursting with spring greens like chickweed, miner’s lettuce, and cleavers. The nettle is just starting to awaken from its winter slumber and in just a few weeks will start to take over the raised bed.
While I love using fresh nettle when available, dried nettle is wonderful to use in all sorts of dishes. From soups and stews, to dressings and dips, it comes in handy for a pop of green or when you need a burst of vitamins and minerals.
You might remember this Nettle Spanakopita with Lemon Balm and Mint Yogurt Sauce recipe or these Nettle Flatbreads from springs past, if you’re looking for some more nettle inspo.
Nettle has been used as a folk medicine throughout North and South America, Europe, North Africa, and parts of Asia since ancient times and is still used as one of the top nourishing tonic herbs today.
In springtime, they are one of the first greens to pop up and the tender leaves are used in foods and teas of the season. Once the leaves are heated or blended, the formic acid “needles” on the leaf are broken, dispelling its sting.
Its flavor is a bit green or grassy tasting but it blends well with other herbs if you prefer a milder flavor.
It is known as a “pot herb” in Traditional European Medicine, meaning that it was a wild herb that could be thrown into the pot of soup for its nutritious benefits.
While the whole plant is medicinal, the fresh or dried leaves tend to get the most use. Nettle is rich in vitamins and minerals like calcium, iron, potassium, magnesium and chlorophyll making it a wonderful nutritive to enjoy as a food or in an herbal tea.
Energetically, nettle is cooling and astringent lending to its anti inflammatory and diuretic properties helping to soothe irritation in the lower urinary tract. Because of nettle’s nutritive properties, it's also used as a tonic for the skin, hair and nails.
If you’re looking to stock up and grab some in bulk, Oregon’s Wild Harvest is a great place to shop for organic herbs.
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