Sautéed Nettles with Garlic: Simple Italian Elegance
I find Italians always have amazing ideas for vegetarian dishes. When visiting family in Italy, I noticed that they would frequently cook their veggies, with a little olive oil and garlic. As my husband’s cousin says, “Italian food is all about simplicity!” This Nettles recipe is my Northern European answer to this Italian style of cooking.
They have so much leafy veggies out there that we can’t buy here. My husband and I do find, that nettles have a similar consistency and texture to spinach, yet slightly coarser when sautéed. saying that however, they aren’t coarse in my pea and nettle soup recipe!
In certain European folklore, including Celtic and English, it is believed that hanging dried nettles outside your home will bring good luck. In some cultures, nettles are associated with fertility and childbirth. Historically, it was believed that carrying a sprig of nettles would keep the mother and baby from harm. Similar to buring sage to get rid of negativity, nettles were once burnt to ward off evil spirits. For more facts about nettles including their health benefits, please check out my Easy Pea-sy Nettle and Pea soup recipe.
Italian style Sautéed Nettles with Garlic
(serves approx 4)
Requirements:
Rubber gloves.
Sieve.
Large frying pan.
Wooden spoon.
A sharp knife.
Garlic crusher.
Ingredients:
6 or 7 handfuls of nettles.
Olive oil.
5 to 6 garlic cloves to taste.
Water.
With your gloves, wash the nettles thoroughly and squeeze dry.
Heat a little olive oil in the pan.
Peel, chop/crush garlic and add to pan. Cook until tender.
Add your nettles and ever so slowly add at least a cup full of water.
Stir continuously, Cook until really really tender. Add more water if needed.
and Bob’s your uncle, there you have it!