Name: Spring nettle and potato soup
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 25 min
Total time: 40 min
Yield: 4 servings
Cuisine: European
Ingredients: 300 g young nettle tops (top 6 leaves, picked before flowering); 500 g floury potatoes (Russet, King Edward), peeled and cubed; 1 large onion, finely chopped; 3 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil or butter; 1.2 L vegetable or chicken stock; 1 garlic clove, minced; 100 ml single cream or crème fraîche; 1 tbsp fresh lemon juice; Nutmeg, salt, and freshly ground black pepper

I

Ingredients for 4

Scale

300 gyoung nettle tops (top 6 leaves, picked before flowering)
500 gfloury potatoes (Russet, King Edward), peeled and cubed
1 largeonion, finely chopped
3 tbspextra-virgin olive oil or butter
1¼ Lvegetable or chicken stock
1 garlicclove, minced
100 mlsingle cream or crème fraîche
1 tbspfresh lemon juice
Nutmeg, salt, and freshly ground black pepper

II

Method

I
Wear thick gloves and long sleeves when handling raw nettles — they sting until cooked or wilted.
II
Rinse the nettles in cold water in a colander (still gloved).
III
In a large pot, sweat the onion in the oil over low heat until translucent (~8 minutes). Add the garlic, cook 1 more minute.
IV
Add the potatoes and stock. Bring to a boil, then simmer 15 minutes until the potatoes are tender.
V
Add all the nettles (still gloved for the last time). Stir — they wilt in seconds and lose their sting.
VI
Simmer 3 more minutes only. Long cooking dulls the color.
VII
Blend smooth with an immersion blender.
VIII
Stir in the cream, lemon juice, a small grating of nutmeg, salt and pepper.
IX
Serve immediately with a swirl of cream and a slice of good sourdough.

III

Notes & variations

Only pick young nettles (top 15 cm) in spring before flowering — older nettles develop calcium oxalate crystals that irritate the urinary tract. Never pick from roadsides or sprayed areas. Cooking or blanching neutralizes the sting completely.

Culinary use only

This is a culinary recipe. It is not medical advice. Some plants have contraindications or interact with medication — check the linked plant profile before use, and consult a healthcare professional for medicinal questions.

IV

Featured from the herbarium

1 plant

Stinging nettle

Urtica dioica

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