What more can I make with nettles?

Hi there, I have a glut of nettles and was wondering apart from tea, soup and fertilizer, if there’s anything else I can do with them. please. Many thanks, Gemma

I find them super tasty as simple cooked greens. I usually just sautee them lightly in lard or whatever fat I have to hand. Sometimes with garlic or spices, but usually just by themselves. Or sometimes with some onions and mushrooms. They feel really nourishing and just brief cooking makes them not sting anymore. I've also put them into omelets, quiches and the like after cooking that way. I bet they'd make amazing addition to palak paneer. I've heard some people put them in smoothies, but I haven't tried that. I bet you could make nettle chips, the same way people make kale chips. The options are many!

The stalks can also be used for fiber, though I haven't gotten a chance to try that yet. I tend to just leave my nettles be in the fall so that they can put all their energy into making seeds and stronger roots for next year's growth. I know the seeds are quite powerful medicine too.

Heather Sharpe wrote:I find them super tasty as simple cooked greens. I usually just sautee them lightly in lard or whatever fat I have to hand. Sometimes with garlic or spices, but usually just by themselves. Or sometimes with some onions and mushrooms. They feel really nourishing and just brief cooking makes them not sting anymore. I've also put them into omelets, quiches and the like after cooking that way. I bet they'd make amazing addition to palak paneer. I've heard some people put them in smoothies, but I haven't tried that. I bet you could make nettle chips, the same way people make kale chips. The options are many!

The stalks can also be used for fiber, though I haven't gotten a chance to try that yet. I tend to just leave my nettles be in the fall so that they can put all their energy into making seeds and stronger roots for next year's growth. I know the seeds are quite powerful medicine too.

Heather; many, many thanks for all of those exciting suggestions. I shall give them all a try. Best wishes, Gemma

I understand this is in the Cooking Forum.

Have you thought of using them for medicine?

Some suggestions for you or others:

https://permies.com/t/167678/kitchen/Herbal-Medicine-Lesson-Stinging-Nettles

https://permies.com/t/145642/Nettles-hayfever

Then you can use them to make compost tea:

https://permies.com/t/118551/composting/Making-compost-tea-nettles

Have you thought about using the for making fiber?

Here are some threads that you or others might enjoy:

https://permies.com/t/172562/fiber-arts/Nettles-Fibre

https://permies.com/t/15319/fiber-arts/Local-Fibre-production-Flax-Nettles

https://permies.com/t/50840/fiber-arts/Nettle-Long-harvesting-stinging-nettle

This is a useful idea:

https://permies.com/t/2808/nettles-cash-crop

Anne Miller wrote:I understand this is in the Cooking Forum.

Have you thought of using them for medicine?

Some suggestions for you or others:

https://permies.com/t/167678/kitchen/Herbal-Medicine-Lesson-Stinging-Nettles

https://permies.com/t/145642/Nettles-hayfever

Then you can use them to make compost tea:

https://permies.com/t/118551/composting/Making-compost-tea-nettles

Have you thought about using the for making fiber?

Here are some threads that you or others might enjoy:

https://permies.com/t/172562/fiber-arts/Nettles-Fibre

https://permies.com/t/15319/fiber-arts/Local-Fibre-production-Flax-Nettles

https://permies.com/t/50840/fiber-arts/Nettle-Long-harvesting-stinging-nettle

This is a useful idea:

https://permies.com/t/2808/nettles-cash-crop

Wow, Anne! Thank you very much for getting all of these links together. I shall be sure to try out every one. Who knew that nettles had so many uses! Best wishes, Gemma

I am glad you liked the list.

We had nettles at our other place and I saw them here sometime though they were not in an area good for gathering.  I think drought got them at some point.

I remember when I first found the forum how much I enjoyed reading about their health benefits and about how to spin nettles into a fiber.

Anne Miller wrote:I am glad you liked the list.

We had nettles at our other place and I saw them here sometime though they were not in an area good for gathering.  I think drought got them at some point.

I remember when I first found the forum how much I enjoyed reading about their health benefits and about how to spin nettles into a fiber.

I’m very excited to start having lots of fun with them. Thanks again!

They are also something that can be dried and stored for winter chicken feed.

Heather Sharpe wrote:I've also put them into omelets, quiches... I bet they'd make amazing addition to palak paneer.

I've also made nettle quiche and can attest to how good it is.

Here are a few more nettle recipes that I've posted in the past:

Nettle and Mascarpone Tortoloni (filled pasta)

Nettle Channa Masala (chickpea curry)

I usually add them towards the end of the cooking as I love their fresh, grassy flavour. I think they lose that a little when overcooked.

Nettle and blue cheese soup or rarebit = very yum.

http://uistwholefoods.com/nettle-soup-with-blue-cheese

https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/nettle-blue-cheese-rarebit

craig howard wrote:They are also something that can be dried and stored for winter chicken feed.

Sounds great Craig; thanks. I shall do that!

You can use nettles mixed with other greens in the Indian recipe for saag, too.  I have made it with pure nettles, but my husband didn't like that.  If it's mixed with other things (ie kale, chard, amaranth, spinach, fenugreek, etc) it tastes very nice.  We make saag other times of year with only kale, and that works great.

A favorite saag recipe:

The Curry Guy's quick saag recipe

Luke Mitchell wrote:

Heather Sharpe wrote:I've also put them into omelets, quiches... I bet they'd make amazing addition to palak paneer.

I've also made nettle quiche and can attest to how good it is.

Here are a few more nettle recipes that I've posted in the past:

Nettle and Mascarpone Tortoloni (filled pasta)

Nettle Channa Masala (chickpea curry)

I usually add them towards the end of the cooking as I love their fresh, grassy flavour. I think they lose that a little when overcooked.

Heather and Luke: Nettle quiche and omelet sound divine, Heather - thank you, and Luke I can’t wait to try these pasta and Indian recipes. Many thanks! Gemma

Rudyard Blake wrote:Nettle and blue cheese soup or rarebit = very yum.

http://uistwholefoods.com/nettle-soup-with-blue-cheese

https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/nettle-blue-cheese-rarebit

Wow, Rudyard - looks wonderful. It’s a long time since I had blue cheese. Thank you!

Kim Goodwin wrote:You can use nettles mixed with other greens in the Indian recipe for saag, too.  I have made it with pure nettles, but my husband didn't like that.  If it's mixed with other things (ie kale, chard, amaranth, spinach, fenugreek, etc) it tastes very nice.  We make saag other times of year with only kale, and that works great.

A favorite saag recipe:

The Curry Guy's quick saag recipe

Thank you very much for the suggestion, Kim. I love all the green leaves in combination like that and have never made saag. Will give it a go!

I love nettles in pasta, whether in the actual pasta, as a filling, or as a sauce or vegetable (with mushrooms *chef's kiss*). This recipe by The River Cottage combines a few of these ideas: https://www.rivercottage.net/recipes/nettle-ravioli
It's so much more craveable than spinach and feels so "green" on the palate, I love it and can never find enough to suit me.

Mercy Pergande wrote:I love nettles in pasta, whether in the actual pasta, as a filling, or as a sauce or vegetable (with mushrooms *chef's kiss*). This recipe by The River Cottage combines a few of these ideas: https://www.rivercottage.net/recipes/nettle-ravioli
It's so much more craveable than spinach and feels so "green" on the palate, I love it and can never find enough to suit me.

Mercy; thank you very much for this delicious suggestion. I love pasta and so will be sure to try these out. Best wishes, Gemma

This is an older thread that I came upon when looking for ideas for the profusion of nettles in our backyard.

I love all these ideas and some are new to me. Thank you for all that contributed!

I have just one to add to the list. I had read that it was good for inflammation such as sore muscles, and one video said he rubbed it directly on his skin. So, this year, my husband and I have been rubbing the leaves fresh from the yard unto each other's sore muscles. It works really well for us, kind of like a tiger balm or Lakota cream. It does sting putting it on, but I don't really mind the sting, myself.

I also want to learn how to make it more of a long-term medicine. I find it only stays fresh a couple of days after picking and becomes moldy.

Shari Clark wrote:
I have just one to add to the list. I had read that it was good for inflammation such as sore muscles, and one video said he rubbed it directly on his skin. So, this year, my husband and I have been rubbing the leaves fresh from the yard unto each other's sore muscles. It works really well for us, kind of like a tiger balm or Lakota cream. It does sting putting it on, but I don't really mind the sting, myself.

Is it the stinging you when you rub it on that makes it anti-inflammatory? Wondering if there is a similarity to bee sting therapy in its mechanism.
I haven't found any nettles yet and I'm bummed. I'd love to try them as you've suggested!

Mercy Pergande wrote:

Is it the stinging you when you rub it on that makes it anti-inflammatory? Wondering if there is a similarity to bee sting therapy in its mechanism.
I haven't found any nettles yet and I'm bummed. I'd love to try them as you've suggested!

Mercy, I am not sure how it works! That's a great question, though. If you lived close by, I would gladly give you some, lol. We have an excess, for sure.

Mercy Pergande wrote:

Is it the stinging you when you rub it on that makes it anti-inflammatory? Wondering if there is a similarity to bee sting therapy in its mechanism.
I haven't found any nettles yet and I'm bummed. I'd love to try them as you've suggested!

Mercy, this article confirms your hypothesis that it is the stinging itself that helps heal:

The Herbal Guide to Using Stinging Nettle wrote:What if I told you that people purposefully sting themselves with nettle? Urtication is the deliberate action of stinging bare skin with nettles to stimulate blood flow and wake up muscles.

So interesting! The article also states that stinging nettles help with allergies as antihistimine. I do wonder how you are supposed to take it for allergies.