Stinging nettle, you know that pesky prickly plant you find everywhere for much of the year, is also bombarded with vitamins and minerals. Yep, we hear you thinking now. That nettle must be a tacky green thing. Not at all! Our wild mushroom expert Katja's nettle tempura is a favourite on her drinks board. And this is the recipe!
Wild game recipe: nettle tempura
Stinging nettles are super healthy and full of vitamins and minerals. Did you know that, among other things, it has blood-cleansing, anti-inflammatory and resistance-boosting properties? In short, nettle is a superfood! And the cool thing is: you can also do a lot of things with the prickly and burning plant in the kitchen. The young tops and leaves of the nettle can be harvested and used in various dishes such as soups, pestos, quiches, tea and even as tempura. And that's what makes it such a surprisingly fun edible plant.
Most people are not fond of nettles - mainly because of their stinging discomfort - so the more fun I have serving my nettle tempura to guests. You should see those faces sometimes! And also, with nettle, you don't have to worry too much about picking too much of it. When you neatly harvest a young bud, three new buds grow back in that spot. Stinging nettles are plentiful. To the point of boredom even. And yet I think it is important to put a disclaimer on wild picking, including this recipe.
How to safely pick a nettle?
With a few handy tricks, you can harvest this versatile plant safely and without getting ‘pricked’. The easiest: put on garden gloves and carefully cut off the nettle tops with scissors and collect them in a container. But what if you don't have gloves or scissors handy? No worries! It can also be done with bare hands. Really! In that case, it is best to grab the plant with two fingertips at the bottom and gently pull it off. What you need to know: the burning hairs point diagonally upwards. At the bottom you run the least risk of the barbs breaking off and you being pricked. If you do get pricked, look nearby for plants such as plantain, dog's breath or sorrel. Bruise them and rub them on the sore spot for some natural relief.
Sustainable appetiser: nettle tempura
Kitchenware
- large pan
- measuring cup
- whisk
Ingredients
- bunch nettles (stems with upper 4 to 6 leaves)
- 200 gr flower (as white as possible)
- ½ litres ice-cold water with bubbles
- 2 egg yolks (for a vegetable option, you can omit the egg yolks)
- bottle sunflower oil
- knife tip salt
Instructions
- Put a small pan on the fire and fill with a layer of sunflower oil of about 7cm.
- Briefly mix the flour, salt, egg yolks and bubble water with a whisk to form a batter.
- When the oil is about 180°C, you can start.
- Dip a nettle stalk whole in the batter and drain briefly over the batter bowl.
- Lower the nettle into the hot oil and simmer for about a minute.
- Remove the nettle from the pan (once crisp) and drain on a piece of kitchen roll. Repeat with the remaining nettles.
- Serve hot! Delicious with soy sauce and sesame mayonnaise.
- Fancy a sweet snack? Then serve with icing sugar! Also fun as a treat.
- Exra fun: decorate with edible flowers of your choice.
Game picking should be taken seriously
Although I love this recipe, here's a disclaimer. It is essential that you know what you are picking. For instance, ramson has an extremely poisonous doppelganger, which can be easily distinguished, but you really have to identify it with attention. And that applies to all plants, really. In addition, wild picking is officially forbidden in the Netherlands, but it is tolerated in many places. It is important to adhere to a number of wild picking rules, so we can all continue to enjoy nature.
- Pick only if you are sure it is an edible species. (For determination purposes, it is sometimes useful to pick something. In that case, pick only what is necessary for proper determination).
- Always take a field guide (book) with you to identify species.
- Make sure you have several game picking books at home so you can compare found varieties.
- Bring a charged phone to access the internet or a plant app (Obsidentify or PlantNet) to consult. Please note that these apps are not a guarantee of the right answer, but can only help you a little along the way. Always consult a reliable field guide or expert as well.
- You do not pick fragile or endangered plants.
- You don't pick plants where there are few of them together.
- You don't pick in protected areas.
- A guideline is: do not pick more than one mushroom box for your own use (only exception is elder).
- Always pick with love and respect for nature and the environment.
- Pick only what you will use.
- Cut or trim the plant carefully and mindfully so that it can simply continue to grow.
- Be kind to animals, birds and insects, don't disturb them to get your wild pick.
- Always leave nature more beautiful than you find it. For example, see a stray piece of plastic lying around during your walk? Take this with you to throw away.
Wild picking is insane, but you shouldn't take it too lightly. That is also the reason why, with my company Wilderlust give wild picking courses and tours. I want to send people out informed!
More game picking tips from thegreenlist.nl
- Also see: garlic butter make.
- Also see: recipe spruce tops in acid.
- Also see: elderflower syrup, which also makes the best cocktails and mocktails!
- Also see: vegan dandelion honey make your own.
Photo credits: Wilderlust (main image).
