Ground elder - is it really edible?

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Ground elder - is it really edible?
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jamanda
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 22 Oct 2006
Posts: 35057
Location: Devon

Posted: Fri Mar 28, 14 11:22 pm Post subject:
I've noticed the alexanders are up and ready - maybe you'd like them better.

Mistress Rose

Joined: 21 Jul 2011
Posts: 15996

Posted: Sat Mar 29, 14 7:51 am Post subject:
Strangely I haven't seen them round here although I did see a lot at Corfe Castle when we were visiting.

Annemieke

Joined: 26 Feb 2013
Posts: 131
Location: Somerset UK

Posted: Sat Mar 29, 14 10:39 am Post subject:

Ever since I eradicated them from my asparagus bed twenty years ago - I thought, at the time, they were asparagus! Innocence! - I have not been able to find them anywhere locally. When I saw the recipes last year, I looked for them everywhere. At last I spotted a few, but by then they were old.
I carefully made a note of the place and have been waiting impatiently for them to come up again this year. So they were as young as they can be without being invisible.
I used to really go for wild food, but my stomach is not what it was, so these days it is nice leeks and kale, preferably before it sprouts. Got plenty of both, thanks to my loving husband. So I don't think I'll go and hunt for alexanders either. I have the feeling it's not growing around here anyway.
xxA

arvo

Joined: 04 Dec 2006
Posts: 3321
Location: Somerset

Posted: Tue Apr 01, 14 6:34 am Post subject:

dpack wrote:

edible and yummy are not always found at the same time

im not keen on ground elder which is edible

burning hemlock root smells yummy and is not edible twice

one cant always trust ones senses as to what is food

rakfisk or durian for instance

Been brave enough to try nettles and mushrooms (as verified by Jamanda)
About the extent of my foraging. Oh, and wild garlic.

VM

Joined: 23 Nov 2007
Posts: 1748
Location: Lincolnshire

Posted: Tue Apr 01, 14 9:51 am Post subject:

This thread has reminded me to go out and pick some nettles.

They make an ok soup - probably would like other greens as much or more for soup, but there is the excitement of them being free and available early.

I really really like using them to make green pasta - same as you would making pasta with spinach. The weird thing about nettles is they go a much brighter green, rather than duller, when cooked, so the pasta dough comes out brilliant green, like play dough. Sadly it goes a bit dull again when you cook the pasta, but still...

Mistress Rose

Joined: 21 Jul 2011
Posts: 15996

Posted: Wed Apr 02, 14 6:47 am Post subject:
It used to be said that nettles were very useful at the end of the winter for peoples health. Whether that was because there was limited fresh food during winter and the vitamin C was needed, or if they have other health giving properties I don't know. Nice idea with the pasta VM.

Annemieke

Joined: 26 Feb 2013
Posts: 131
Location: Somerset UK

Posted: Wed Apr 02, 14 9:47 am Post subject:

Never underestimate a nettle! The health benefits of nettle are described here: www.healthbenefitstimes.com/health-benefits-of-stinging-nettles/. They contain the following vitamins and minerals: vits A, B1, B2, B3, B6, C and E; calcium, potassium, magnesium, phosphorus, sodium, iron, manganese, zinc, copper and selenium. See https://nettleteahq.com/2012/what-is-in-nettle-tea-a-list-of-vitamins-and-minerals/.
The only reason people don't eat them more, is because it's so easy to buy tasteless veg in the supermarket. And of course, they are best in early spring. Just when the veg is particularly tasteless .....
We have grown too tidy (out with the weeds!), and we don't know all these old truths anymore.

NorthernMonkeyGirl

Joined: 10 Apr 2011
Posts: 4630
Location: Peeping over your shoulder

Posted: Wed Apr 02, 14 9:49 am Post subject:
I made a cracking nettle soup, but haven't found a good patch in my new stomping ground yet.

Mistress Rose

Joined: 21 Jul 2011
Posts: 15996

Posted: Thu Apr 03, 14 6:32 am Post subject:

Could you post the recipe for us NMG please?

Annemieke, nettles are a pain (in every sense) but we have them in our garden. We are not very neat, but try to have wild flowers as well as other things. Sometimes have to do something with the more invasive ones if we get round to it. I will try to make some nettle soup as it sounds as if we need it after a long hard winter wading through mud.

We have quite large patches in the woods where we think there used to be pheasant feeding stations. They grow well where there is plenty of phosphates, so in the past they would have grown on middens, near the privy and in graveyards.

NorthernMonkeyGirl

Joined: 10 Apr 2011
Posts: 4630
Location: Peeping over your shoulder

Posted: Thu Apr 03, 14 9:32 am Post subject:
https://carrotandrabbit.wordpress.com/2011/03/27/nettles-and-geese/ It's less a recipe and more "So I had all this stuff hanging around..."

dpack

Joined: 02 Jul 2005
Posts: 46247
Location: yes

Posted: Thu Apr 03, 14 12:29 pm Post subject:
im not keen on nettle but the top two sets of leaves are ok as a potherb,they go well with hawthorn buds/young leaves and lots of butter.

Mistress Rose

Joined: 21 Jul 2011
Posts: 15996

Posted: Fri Apr 04, 14 6:03 am Post subject:
Thanks NMG. Will look at that.

Nick

Joined: 02 Nov 2004
Posts: 34535
Location: Hereford

Posted: Fri Apr 04, 14 6:40 am Post subject:

dpack wrote:

im not keen on nettle but the top two sets of leaves are ok as a potherb,they go well with hawthorn buds/young leaves and lots of butter.

Aye, I don't find them particularly tasty. Shame, as we have acres of the damn things.

jamanda
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 22 Oct 2006
Posts: 35057
Location: Devon

Posted: Fri Apr 04, 14 6:50 am Post subject:
Saag made with half nettle, half ransoms is very good.

tahir

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 45676
Location: Essex

Posted: Fri Apr 04, 14 8:31 am Post subject:

Jamanda wrote:

Saag made with half nettle, half ransoms is very good.

It's catching

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