John Myers
The stinging nettle can not only be prepared as a tea – there are many other ways to integrate the healthy plant into the diet. You just have to make sure that the stinging hairs can no longer cause the typical itching.
Prepare nettle: you have to pay attention to this
It is worth considering nettles not as a weed but as a high-yield source of nutrients. When dry, it contains up to 40 percent protein. It also has magnesium, iron, and vitamin C. For the preparation, it is important to render the stinging hairs of the plant harmless. This can be done by boiling, rolling (breaking off the hairs), or pureeing the nettle. Then it can be used in many ways.
Nettle pesto
For a jar of pesto, you need 100 ml olive oil, 2 handfuls of nettle leaves, 20 g pine nuts, 2 g walnuts, 1/2 lemon, 1 tbsp balsamic vinegar, salt, and pepper. Roast nuts without fat. Then place in a tall bowl with the remaining ingredients. Blend thoroughly.
Nettle Soup
For 2 portions of nettle soup, you need 25 g fresh and young nettle leaves, 250 g yogurt, 125 ml plant milk, 1 tbsp vegetable oil, 1 tbsp lemon juice, and salt, pepper, and paprika powder. Wash nettle and puree with milk, oil, lemon juice, and spices. Then mix with the yogurt and serve cold.
Nettle biscuits
For 10 nettle cookies, you will need 1 handful of fresh nettle leaves, 125g almond flour, 1 tsp salt, 1 tsp baking powder, 30g coconut oil, 1 egg, and 1 squeeze of lime juice. Preheat the oven to 180 degrees Celsius (top and bottom heat). Wash nettle and chop finely. Whisk together the almond flour, baking powder, coconut oil, lime juice, and salt in a bowl. Then shape into small biscuits on a baking sheet and bake for 15 minutes. Serve warm – goes well with herb dips or cream cheese.
Nettle smoothie
For 500 ml green nettle smoothie you need 1 handful of fresh nettles, 1 apple, and 1 banana. Put the ingredients in a blender and add 250 ml of water. Mix well and serve.
Nettle as a spinach substitute
For 2 servings of nettle “spinach”, you will need 250 g nettle leaves, 1/2 onion, vegetable oil, and salt and pepper. Remove the stalks of the nettle leaves. Then cook in a little water for 10 minutes. Meanwhile, chop and sauté the onions. Then puree with the nettle leaves and spices and serve (or continue to use).
