Wild Nettle Pesto Recipe & Nettle Picking Tips
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Looking to make wild nettle pesto? Try my delicious recipe that you can whizz up in minutes.
We have a patch of wild nettles in our garden that we keep for the ladybirds – they’re one of the many beneficial weeds that are great to grow in the garden.
However this year I’ve decided to share the patch with the ladybirds by making wild nettle pesto. It’s ok to share at this time of year – ladybirds tend to lay their eggs from June to July. And you really don’t want to be picking nettles after the end of May for health reasons anyway (more on that later).
Wild nettle pesto is really delicious stirred into pasta, drizzled on omelettes, spread on sandwiches or pizzas, or incorporated into other recipes.
It’s also super quick and easy to make – it takes less than 15 minutes to whip up. It tastes not too dissimilar to spinach pesto. And don’t worry, nettles lose their sting after being cooked, so there’s no chance of being stung!
Nettle Picking Tips
If you don’t have a patch of nettles in your garden then it’s really easy to forage for wild nettles for this pesto recipe. Nettles are so ubiquitous in any woods or wild ground.
There are a couple of plants that look like nettles, such as the False Nettle and Horse Balm. Therefore do make sure you’re not in any doubt about what you’re picking.
I found a handy guide to identifying nettles that you might find useful if you’re not 100% sure, otherwise consult a book on foraging. I felt quite confident as we’ve had our patch of nettles for over four years now, and I’ve been stung a few times on them whilst gardening!
To make sure you don’t get stung whilst harvesting your nettles for the pesto wear long sleeves and gloves.
To pick the nettles, arm yourself with a pair of scissors and a container. Then cut the young leaves at the top of the stem off. You don’t want the bitter-tasting big old leaves and thick stems.
Give the leaves a shake before you put them in your container to remove any insects that might be on the leaves. And lastly, try not to pick beside paths where dogs might have widdled on them!
Wild nettle pesto is definitely a spring-time delicacy. Make sure you pick your nettles before they flower – March, April and May are generally good times to pick – as flowering nettles can upset your urinary tract if consumed.
Wild Nettle Pesto Recipe
Delicious Wild Nettle Pesto Recipe
Ingredients
- One colander full of freshly picked nettles
- 45 g of pine nuts
- 45 g of vegetarian hard cheese grated (I used Twineham Grange hard cheese which is Vegetarian Society approved. If you’re not vegetarian then any hard cheese, such as parmesan or grana padano can be used)
- 4 raw cloves of garlic
- 140 ml of olive oil
- 10 ml of lemon juice
- 1/2 teaspoon of salt
- 1/2 teaspoon of pepper
- Optional: 1/4 teaspoon of chilli flakes or more or less depending on your taste
Instructions
- Wash your nettles, and bring a large pot of salted water (just a pinch) to boil. When the water is boiling add your nettles to the pot and boil for two minutes.
- Remove your nettles from the pot and place in a bowl of cold water.
- Toast your pine nuts in a dry pan (no oil) until golden brown.
- Add the nuts to your food processor, and add your cloves of garlic, grated hard cheese, salt, pepper and lemon juice (and chilli flakes if you’re using them). Pulse for a minute or two until you have a grainy texture.
- Remove your nettles from the cold water and squeeze out as much water as you can. I placed my nettles in an old tea towel, twisted it up, and wrung it out to remove the excess water, but you can do it by hand as the nettles don’t sting after boiling.
- Add your nettles to the food processor, and pulse the mixture for a minute until it’s green and grainy.
- Whilst your food processor is still running slowly drizzle in the olive oil until the pesto is quite gloopy. You may ending up using more or less olive oil than 140 ml depending on what your prefered consistency is.
- Transfer the pesto to a sterilised jar and store in the fridge for up to one week. Use as you would any pesto.
Enjoy!
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Love your recipe, Wendy. I’m a forest therapy guide/forager of wild edible and medicinal plants. Here in the Pacific Northwest, USA we have Devil’s Club that I make jewelry, walking staffs, medicine and the very best pesto I’ve ever experienced. The buds that furl out into the gigantic maple shaped leaves are harvestable for just a few days in the late spring, when they’re about the size of my thumb. This amazing plant is used by the native folk to treat everything from the common cold to cancer. Very effective in treating type 2 diabetes. Making nettle pesto today and watching the Devil’s Club closely….Happy foraging Jahn Kraske
I’ve never heard of that plant before, but it sounds amazing Jahn! Hope the pesto making went well!
I made this today with 3 garlic cloves & a handful of fresh sage leaves from my garden my husband loved it & no longer hates my nettle patch behind the shed.
That’s great to hear Vidya! So glad your husband loved the pesto, and that it has converted him to the joys of a nettle patch!
Brilliant – was leaving my allotment and decided to pick some nettles and find a receipe when I got home. This is a lovely receipe and replaces basil which can be expensive with something that grows everywhere in the UK. Top marks and thanks for sharing!
Thanks Jane – glad you enjoyed!
Just wondering how long this could be bottled and kept? Is there anyway to keep it for six – 9 months if vacuum packed?
Hi Sara, I’d recommend storing it in the fridge for up to one week. I’m not too sure about preserving it any longer than that I’m afraid.
Just made it,delicious.. I no I’m late picken but I was carful.. Thank you
Looks really delicious!
Thank you for the recipe!
Thanks Helena – it’s really tasty! Hope you enjoy making it!