Advertisement

  • 1 tbsp olive oil
    plus extra for drizzling
  • 1 onion
    chopped
  • 1 carrot
    diced
  • 1 leek
    washed and finely sliced
  • 1 large floury potato
    (Maris Piper or similar), thinly sliced
  • 1l vegetable stock
  • 400g stinging or Dead nettles
    washed, leaves picked (see tips below)
  • 50g butter
    diced
  • 50ml double cream

Nutrition: per serving

  • kcal323
  • fat21g
  • saturates11g
  • carbs21g
  • sugars7g
  • fibre9g
  • protein6g
  • salt0.9g
    low

Method

  • step 1

    Heat the oil in a large saucepan over a medium heat. Add the onion, carrot, leek and potato, and cook for 10 mins until the vegetables start to soften. Add the stock and cook for a further 10-15 mins until the potato is soft.

  • step 2

    Add the nettle leaves, simmer for 1 min to wilt, then blend the soup. Season to taste, then stir in the butter and cream. Serve the soup drizzled with extra oil and scattered with dead nettle flowers, if you have them.

RECIPE TIPS
DEAD NETTLES

This is a different plant from the stinger, but gets its name because, although the leaves look the same, they don’t sting. They have either white or purple edible flowers, and can be cooked in the same way as stingers.

STINGING NETTLES

These grow in abundance and are best eaten before they flower in late May. Wear gloves to save yourself getting stung – I find that a pair of washing-up gloves gives you lots of control over your picking, as well as shielding the top of your arms if you’re in a T-shirt. Wash the nettles well before cooking.

Recipe from Good Food magazine, May 2012

Advertisement

Comments, questions and tips

Rate this recipe

What is your star rating out of 5?

Choose the type of message you'd like to post

Choose the type of message you'd like to post

Overall rating

A star rating of 4.3 out of 5.17 ratings
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement