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Cream of Nettle Soup

Prep Time:  10 Minutes

     Cook Time:  40 Minutes

     Serves:  4

This easy yet substantial nettle-and-potato cream soup is delicious both hot and cold, and is a perfect way to utilize both nettle stems and leaves. Tender early-season nettles are ideal, but nettles of any degree of maturity should work.

Ingredients

  • 1 ½ cups blanched nettle leaves and stems (or other in-season leafy greens)
  • 1 large onion, chopped
  • 2 large potatoes, (or 3 medium potatoes) cubed (peeling is optional)
  • 2 whole garlic cloves
  • 1 tsp. salt
  • 5 cups cold water
  • 1 cup whole milk, (or a non-dairy substitute)
  • 3 tbsp. butter, at room temperature
  • 1 ½ tbsp. flour, (see suggestions below for a gluten-free option)
  • Dash of nutmeg
  • Salt and black pepper to taste
  • Walnuts for garnish (optional)

Directions

  1. Place nettles, onion, potatoes and garlic in a pot and add the water and salt. Bring to a boil then reduce to a simmer and cook until the potatoes are tender and falling apart, approximately 25 to 30 minutes.
  2. Allow to cool slightly and blend with an immersion blender. Stir in the milk.
  3. In a separate bowl, blend the flour and the butter into a smooth paste. Stir 1 cup of the hot soup into the butter-flour mixture until incorporated, then add the mixture back to the soup.
  4. Return to a simmer for five minutes, stirring frequently. Remove from heat and stir in the nutmeg and additional salt and pepper to taste.
  5. Serve warm or cold. If desired, sprinkle individual portions with nuts prior to serving.

Notes

Suggestions Variations: 1. Instead of using raw onions, sauté the onions in butter or oil until translucent, then add the garlic and sauté for an additional minute. Proceed with the recipe as directed. 2. For a dairy-free option, a non-dairy milk substitute can certainly be used. 3. For a gluten-free option or if you prefer a thinner soup, the roux (flour/butter mixture) may be omitted. In this case, Sofya recommends sautéing the onions and garlic as mentioned above to add additional depth to the flavor. Tip: Use gloves when handling nettles. To remedy stinging-nettle burns, scrub the affected area with soap and water.