Nettles those mean green stinging machines! But they are so much more!
Oh yes, nettles. The common garden so-called-weed that most kids and big kids cower at the sight of. Well not us! Not these hedgepigs and potion makers! Nettles are chocked full of iron and vitamin C and have a ridiculously long list of benefits including promoting healthy skin and hair, kidney function, and digestion.We have embraced the nettle, picked it, cleaned it and turned it into fun concoctions to eat, drink and pamper with. So we thought we’d share the recipes with you…
Spanglish Nettle Tortilla:
Before there were hedgepigs, there were Spanish Tortillas being concocted in my Cocina Madrileña. Then when the two merged and… well.. the Nettle Tortilla was created! This is my basic spanish omelette recipe that I learnt when living in Spain with an added british foraged treat!
Ingredients:
8 medium potatoes sliced thinly (as thin as you can)
6 eggs, beaten
1 white onion sliced thinly
2 cups nettles (roughly)
Salt to taste
Olive Oil (to preference)
either 1 cup or 4 tbl depending on method of choice:
Now there are two ways of making this omelette.. the authentic Spanish way and the quick Idon’twanttousethatmuchoilareyoucrazy way so here’s both:
Authentic Spanish Method:
In a NONSTICK frying pan add in a tbl spoon olive oil, brown the onions.
Add in potatoes and pour rest of olive oil over them until they are in a nice deep olive oil bath.
Fry lightly until soft.
Strain potatoes and store excess oil in a jar for your next tortilla, authentic, remember!
Cover a plate with kitchen towel, empty potatoes and onions from strainer onto plate and let excess oil be absorbed before adding back into the pan.
Make sure your frying pan is well oiled. Add potato/onion mix back into frying pan and add washed nettles. Stir gently until the nettles begin to wilt.
Pour in beaten egg mix. This should just cover the potato mix and hold everything together. Smooth the top over and squash the ingredients down a bit to help it mold.
This is where it gets tricky.. don’t expect your first tortilla to look beautiful. It will most likely end up looking like scrambled egg and potato but don’t get discouraged. Yeah, it will taste the same but the satisfaction of making the perfect tortilla is immense! This stuff takes practice!!
Once you can see the egg starting to cook and before you smell it burning grab a plate and pop it on top of the frying pan. Tip the frying pan over, leaving the tortilla on the plate. That’s one side done. Now slide the tortilla back into the frying pan with the already browned side up. Wait until the tortilla sort of slides around the pan, that means the other side is brown and ready too!
Slide the tortilla back onto the plate and there it is! The Spanglish Omelette.
The Idon’twanttousethatmuchoilareyoucrazy way: (also saves time)
Boil enough water to cover your sliced potatoes and boil until they fall off the knife when pricked.
While potatoes are boiling, add 1tbl olive oil to frying pan and brown onions.
Mix potatoes, onions and remaining 3 tbl olive oil into pan until things start to get a little crispy and the potatoes are nice and cooked.
Add nettles, stir until they begin to wilt. Then add egg mixture.
This should just cover the potato mix and hold everything together. Smooth the top over and squash the ingredients down a bit to help it mold.
This is where it gets tricky.. don’t expect your first tortilla to look beautiful. It will most likely end up looking like scrambled egg and potato but don’t get discouraged. Yeah, it will taste the same but the satisfaction of making the perfect tortilla is immense! This stuff takes practice!!
Once you can see the egg starting to cook and before you smell it burning grab a plate and pop it on top of the frying pan. Tip the frying pan over, leaving the tortilla on the plate. That’s one side done. Now slide the tortilla back into the frying pan with the already browned side up. Wait until the tortilla sort of slides around the pan, that means the other side is brown and ready too!
Slide the tortilla back onto the plate and there it is! The Spanglish Omelette.
Morning Dew Tea
Nettle Leaf & Burdock Root
This tea is great for cleansing the bod in the morning. Nettle and burdock team up to promote healthy skin and kidney function.
1 cup nettles
1 tbl burdock root
4 cps water
1 tsp honey (optional)
Grab some gardening gloves and gather some nettles from most anywhere! (Avoid roadsides, fumes – yech!)
Take them home in your red-riding hood basket and give them a good wash.
Chuck them in a pot of boiling water with the burdock root and let them infuse for about 10 minutes.
Strain the nettles and burdock root, add the honey or sugar if you please and enjoy.
You can buy burdock root from most health food stores or the wonderful tinterweb! But if you know where to forage them in your area, go for it!
Back Garden Herbal Hair Rinse
Ingredients:
4 cups water
1 thick bunch nettles
2 sprigs rosemary
1 sprig Lavender
10 drops Rosemary, Lavender or Tea Tree Essential Oils (for delicious smells)
1 tsp Apple Cider Vinegar (for detangling/ pH balancing properties – optional)
**Most of these ingredients are optional! Stick to nettles and water and you’ll still get great results! Use what your garden gives you folks!**
Much the same as making nettle tea! Gather a good thick bunch of nettles (with gloves). If you’re not up for that then you can buy dried nettle leaf in most health food stores or the wonderful tintnerweb machine.
Add 4 cups boiling water to a saucepan, add nettles, rosemary and lavender and let steep for 10 minutes.
Let cool and strain out herbs. Add an essential oil of choice and apple cider vinegar.
Pour into glass bottles or kilner jar and keep in the fridge.
To use:
Wash hair (why not try using our Rhassoul Clay Shampoo for the most gentle and chemical free routine!)
Pour hair rinse over hair and comb through. Let it sit while you do things that are often forgotten like, singing in the shower, washing your feet or scrubbing behind your ears!
Rinse out, do one of those ridiculous “YES! YES! YES!” shampoo advert moments (you know the ones I mean) and get on with the day!
Just a little disclaimer here:
Hedgepig Naturals aims to provide the best possible information on health, herbal medicines and skincare remedies. This information should not replace professional advice by a qualified medical or herbal practitioner.
Many minor health conditions such as colds and flu are suitable for self-treatment. However, if you are worried about any health condition, it is always advisable to have a face-to-face consultation with a doctor or other healthcare practitioner in order to obtain a diagnosis and treatment advice. Use your common sense chaps!
Hedgepig Naturals 