Did you know you can pick young nettles with your bare hands and they don’t sting you? Don’t blame me if you do get stung, but I’ve tried it and found it to be true – most of the time.
A free food source is always a good one, and nettles are packed full of more vitamins and minerals than spinach and broccoli, and they’re rich in vitamin C and iron. The tips – the top four or six leaves – are the best. Once the plant has begun to flower you should leave it as the leaves will be too tough. Look instead for the little new shoots and small plants to get the best.
Read more from Anna online at the-grazer.blogspot.com and enjoy her home cooking at The Cookhouse, Ouse Street
Newcastle, NE1 2PF