Farmers Market Fare - Nettles

I have been accused of eating things that have no business being served. The joke is really on my family, since the usually don't realize that they have been eating the offending food all along. Distraction is key to cooking with wild foods, but the results are worth it.

At the farmers market right now, nettles are available. You remember the Nettle from the sharp bite you got on your shins at a child, fetching the ball that rolled into the weeds? The itch lasts for just a few minutes, but over a wide expanse of skin can be quite uncomfortable. This sting only happens when the nettles are fresh however, and their nutritional value far outweighs the bother of having to wear garden gloves to harvest them.

Because there are so many Nervous Nellies out there,  if you are brave enough to collect these powerhouses of nutrition, nettles can be used to boost the flavor and texture of many foods you already eat. Hopefully, your local farmers market will also carry them fresh. Ask some of the vendors, they probably harvest and keep the nettles for their own family.

Photo: La. Catholique