I wasn't sure whether to post this on this forum or in the wilderness one since it's foraged nettles. It's also vegan and paleo, so it checks a lot of boxes. ;) In any case, I thought I'd share this super simple, really tasty and healthy recipe that my kids and I love.
I posted the recipe to our foraging/homesteading blog today
here but thought folks here might also find it useful.
We try to use nettles a lot around here since they’re so healthy, so tasty and grow so plentifully all around us. One of the kids’ favorite ways to enjoy nettles are in smoothies. Yes, really!
You probably know how healthy stinging nettles are for you, but most folks don’t realize you can use them in smoothies without worrying about the sting.
You can effectively eliminate the sting of stinging nettles by either cooking or thoroughly blending them. Drying nettles removes most of their sting too, but I’ve had an occasional tiny sting from dried nettles that weren’t fully crushed or chopped. They’re still worth it that way for the wonderful tea they make though.
Here’s all you need for pineapple nettle smoothies:
Frozen pineapple chunks
Fresh, washed stinging nettle leaves and/or tops
Water
That’s it!
Use the amounts that suit your taste. We do slightly more pineapple than nettle for the kids, with enough water to make a typically slushy consistency.
Be sure to use a powerful blender that can handle the frozen pineapple (I use a discounted Vitamix that I bought reconditioned 8 years ago and use nearly daily for things like green smoothies, soups, dips and for grinding grains for gluten free flours).
You can also use wood nettle for this (which many people mistakenly think is stinging nettle and also has a light sting) or you can use other mild-tasting wild greens like lambsquarters. Feel free to throw in a handful of fresh wood sorrel for its lemony zing and high vitamin C content too!
I included some links and more information about why stinging nettle is such a great plant on the blog post, too.
Enjoy!
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