Stinging Nettle-Ade Recipe (2024)

FAQs

How do you make stinging nettles safe to eat? ›

Because the stings have to remain firm to cause the irritation, cooking the leaf instantly makes them safe – don't try to eat the leaf raw in a salad or anything. There are plenty of recipes online for a variety of hot dishes, so see what you fancy. Think of the nettle leaf like spinach and use it in a similar way.

To make your own nettle infusion, add 100 ml of water and a large handful of clean, young nettle leaves to a pan and bring to a gentle boil over medium heat. Reduce the heat to low and let the leaves simmer in the water for about 15-20 minutes. Strain through a fine sieve, discarding the used leaves.

There are several ways to prepare the leaves once you've taken them home. You can wash and dry them by leaving them in the open air, or you can freeze-dry them for long-term storage. If you freeze the leaves, blanch them first. Boil them in water for 2 minutes, then soak them in ice water for 2 more minutes.

Nettles should not be eaten once they have flowered but can be cut back to produce young flowerless nettles in no time. A very abundant and under used superfood that is very easy to identify if a little painful to collect without gloves.

Stinging nettle is generally considered safe when used as directed. Occasional side effects include mild stomach upset, fluid retention, sweating, diarrhea, and hives or rash (mainly from topical use). It is important to be careful when handling the nettle plant because touching it can cause an allergic rash.

Avoid if you're pregnant or breastfeeding because there isn't enough information on its safety. Use with caution if you're elderly because of the potential of causing low blood pressure. And use stinging nettle with caution if you have diabetes because of the potential that it may lower or raise blood sugar levels.

This Herbal Coffee with Nettle is a gentle liver cleansing and healing drink with beneficial adaptogens. A delicious stinging nettle recipe, this drink gently detoxes and prepares our bodies for spring. This recipe is a warming and lovely homage to the process of cleansing rituals that spring brings each year.

This suggests that nettle has anti-inflammatory properties. However, the study focuses on eating nettle leaves as food rather than on consuming nettle tea. As a result, the tea may not have the same effect. The Arthritis Foundation suggest that people who want to try the tea drink one cup three times per day.

Antiplatelet and anticoagulant drugs (blood-thinners) -- Stinging nettle may affect the blood's ability to clot, and could interfere with any blood-thinning drugs you are taking, including: Warfarin (Coumadin) Clopidogrel (Plavix)

Scroll up to blog post to see everything you need to know about where to find nettles plus step-by-step instructions with photos! A word of caution: Do NOT eat stinging nettles raw. They will sting your skin and the inside of your mouth. The stingers must be deactivated before eating.

How to make stinging nettle tincture? ›

Put the nettle leaf and alcohol in pint jar, stir and cover with the lid. Label the jar with contents. Place the jar in a cool, dark place, and shake it daily. After 2-3 weeks, strain into bowl and use wooden spoon to press down on herbs left in strainer to get all the goodness.

At this point, it's best to think of stinging nettles in a similar fashion to spinach in terms of cooking the leaves. Quickly blanching them in a pot of boiling water will deaden the sting.

Blanch nettle for one to two minutes. This will remove the sting. Remove nettle from boiling water and place in bowl of ice water to retain its bright green color. Turn off heat on boiling water, but reserve the water for boiling your pasta if using the pesto as a pasta sauce.

Nettle leaves must first be cooked or steamed to destroy the hairs on them, which contain a number of irritating chemicals. Most medicinal uses of stinging nettle use more of the plant than you would typically eat.