On your long and wholesome Sunday country walks, you may spot stinging nettles and disregard them as weeds and pull your children and dogs away from them. If you were to learn how nutritious they truly were, would you still stay so clear from them? How could a plant that literally stings you be good for you? We decided to take a look at this deceivingly disguised superfood.
After some research, we learnt that these scary stinging nettles are actually one of the most nutritious edible and medicinal wild plants you can come by. Nettles contain large amounts of vitamins and minerals, here are some of our favourite ones:
- Vitamin A - good for your immune system
- Vitamin C - helps keep your body healthy
- Iron - makes your red blood cells, which carry oxygen around your body
- Calcium - keeps your bones strong
- Potassium - works similarly to electrolytes!
While we would probably still recommend wearing gloves to collect them when you spot them, you can also use the method of pinching them hard to avoid the sting. Now you want to reap the nutritional benefits of these plants. You get home and you either steam or blanch them, and begin to turn them into something creative such as nettle pesto or, our personal favourite, nettle hummus!
We would love to share a recipe, to inspire you during your next sunny walk when you spot some stinging nettles and create your own healthy nettle hummus!
Ingredients:
- 1 can of chickpeas (drained and rinsed)
- Bunch of stinging nettle tops and leaves
- Squeeze of lemon juice
- 1 tbsp Tahini
- 2 tbsp Extra virgin olive oil
- 1 tsp Cumin
- Sea salt and garlic powder to taste
Method:
- Boil stinging nettles for 30 seconds, drain.
- Combine ingredients in food processor for 1 minute
- If the consistency is too thick add some water, press again to smoothen out
- Store hummus in an airtight container. Eat within 2 days. Enjoy!