Cooking with Stinging Nettle

[@janiceinman6074]

I love learning about all of the different ways to eat stinging nettle and all of the other food! One way that I eat nettle is to make green soup. I just throw a bunch of different greens and herbs along with garlic, onion, beets, carrots and vegetable broth in a crockpot. I am one of those that cook with what I have on hand, no particular ingredients or measurements. Once the vegetables are tender I use a hand blender to blend them till they are smooth. You can add all kinds of things to the soup. Yogurt, croutons, cheese, beans, etc. I freeze it in single containers to take to work. I found that combining the soup with lentil soup tastes great, too.

[@tessie652001]

I used to toss it out of my gardens no more , yes ive been stung by it hahaha . I will be letting it grow for now on ,thank you dear

[@blessedbloominghomestead9134]

I don't think we have nettle on our property, but I think I'll take a walk to the back side of the pond and see what I find. God is good!! All the time!!

[@homesteadingatnorthernwaye193]

Thank you very much .God bless you .

[@Anamericanhomestead]

I just got some nettle seeds this weekend and I'm so excited to find a place to plant them soon. Thank you for all your great ideas!

[@RainCountryHomestead]

planted ours in front of a bedroom window in order to add just a bit of security but it will spread through seed and roots so I have to make sure to keep up on them each year so they do not overtake my whole front garden area

[@dodopson3211]

It's so amusing that you're excited to plant nettles, whereas other home owners try their damned hardest to eradicate that 'nasty weed' 😂 maybe look for them in the neighbourhood and offer to help weed them, they spread really easily.

[@RainCountryHomestead]

I intentionally started from seed and grow what I have. I put it in about 5 years ago and even though I have to thin it back every year, I am still happy I have it for its many benefits and I can rely on it being there for me more so than most other greens

[@rosejacobs4745]

Nettle is one of my favorite favorite favorite super foods. I am so glad you made this video.

[@countrygalinthecity]

Love my stinging nettle! When my sons allergies start, the first thing he asks for is nettle tea

[@tennesseegirl1215]

Haven’t never tried nettle, this year for first time ever, I planted beets, kale, and Swiss chard. I generally have only grown the things my parents grew. Watching YT spiked my interest to try new things as I also began trying to eat healthier, just found a few months ago, I’m diabetic so dr said try and get it down with diet and exercise or go on meds and I don’t want their meds, so working to bring it down myself. Thanks for sharing about the nettles, will try it, blessings

[@RainCountryHomestead]

One thing I like about nettle over other greens is that it is perennial so I never need to plant it again or worry if it will survive if we get a cold snap.

[@marthathompson2012]

@@RainCountryHomestead that’s awesome-I didn’t know that! I thought it reseeded itself

[@RainCountryHomestead]

@@marthathompson2012 It does that too and also spreads through the roots so it can take over if one is not careful to pull back the plants spreading under the top of the soil every spring and weed out new plants trying to come up from seed.

[@tennesseegirl1215]

Need to go foraging and find a plant or two to bring and plant, we are in 90's this week, whew 😓

[@elizabethcope1502]

I had a male friend that was put in hospital. He was diagnosed with severe diabetes. We worked together @ a chicken restaurant. He ate breakfast @ home. He did his blood test & let me know what he got in test. I fixed his lunch in electric skillet. I made him gelatin type snacks since he was used to snacking on chicken crust which is a no no. Then he ate supper with my daughter & me. Depending on his reading, I fixed more green vegetables on high days. His first check up the doctor was amazed how well he was doing. So Tennessee Girl diet works. Good luck.

[@debbiesavage7107]

I’m a very plain cook so this was a lot of help! I would never have thought to put nettle in a quiche. I add it to my green tea every day, though. I’m the opposite of you; no mint tea for me. Thank you for this great tutorial!

[@violethomesteadgeorgia7278]

Good timing. I planted nettle and can't wait to try them.

[@violethomesteadgeorgia7278]

Hmmm one of my favorite dishes is spanikopita (sp). Think I'll try replacing some or all of the spinach

[@trishthehomesteader9873]

@@violethomesteadgeorgia7278 O my gosh! I was just thinking the same thing! I've had a hankering for spanakopita! 😋🤤

[@JeTVas]

This will be my first year to grow nettle, got 3 plants from a lovely lady who was downsizing them from her backyard.. I'm happy that they are going to become part of my yard now..

[@marygallagher3428]

Great video!

[@gregjung9301]

Thanks for sharing this video with me, God is most definitely good all the time.

[@thornhedge9639]

I have to confess; I use the leaves in spaghetti sauce, the kids eat it because they don't know it's there! There"s like an acre of the stuff across the street, so I only raise a small patch at home! I find starting Nettles, is a lot like starting Kudzu, just walk into the middle of your concrete patio, drop the seed and run like there"s a fire! LOL!

[@RainCountryHomestead]

🤣

[@lynettetucker544]

Hello ⛈☔️County I have not had the pleasure of trying stinging nettle I’ll need to make a trip to the herbal store to get me some 🌿🌿 tea

[@sleepy580]

So crazy. Started finding out about nettle. Bought it in a capsule. Feel like it’s helpful. Then recognized some growing in my yard! Pesky, hardy weed I had been cutting down year after year. Now I keep getting videos on how to use the fresh plant.

[@svelanikolova5776]

In Bulgaria we boil rice, steam the nettle mix and then mix plain yogurt in it. Salt and pepper to taste. You can also do the same but instead of yogurt yiu can add the nettle and the rice to tomato soup with ginger and garlic.

[@svelanikolova5776]

Px. Don't forget to eat the nettle seeds as well which are super for yiud brain and memory. 1 tbs per bowl of soup.

[@TheMobileHomestead]

Next to Beet Greens ... I can't think of a more delicious cooked green than Stinging Nettles ..super great taste

[@tinnerste2507]

I’ve got this plant growing everywhere in my garden this and ground elder. I want to plant it in a raised bed and try to keep it small by clipping it once a week for spinach. I’ve heard... that eating the larger plants can irritate you and you should only eat about a hand length from the tip... but I don’t know for sure it gets too stingy after it warms up for me to fuss with it. But maybe trimming keeps it less aggressive lol . I’ve also heard that George Washington ate some nettles every day to stay healthy . Thanks for the video!

[@Large011]

Excellent video ! Excellent Links !

[@clerkmaxwell7912]

Thanks. 👍

[@valeriaboe2556]

Have done frittatas and I take tea daily Also nettles and mixed greens soup Have wilted with garlic salt Thanks for your ideas and channel!❤️

[@suereaume97]

Thanks for answering me

[@MsTexan1]

This was very helpful. I started growing it as an herb. I didn't know about cooking it.

[@davidlancaster1974]

Brilliant!

[@yourealizardharry5383]

If you are suffering allergic rhinitis, I'd like to recommend nettle tea, works better than any allergy medication I've used, I usually do half pine needles half stinging nettle, with a teaspoon of pine sap, it tast delicious too

[@zlickDude]

never tried stinging nettles, they've been growing like the plague on our yard for ages haha and nobody realised they are super good for eating! Im gonna tame the beast!

[@debbiecurtis4021]

I just made lemon cake with nettle leaves and seeds that I foraged.

[@balanceskateboarding8807]

Yummy ❤

[@joycewedel9084]

Ty

[@trishthehomesteader9873]

Blessed day!🌹 I'm hemming and hawing about this one Heidi. Not because of the stinging but because I planted lemon balm and catnip probably 10 years ago and I'm Still finding it popping up all over the yard! ☺️ Maybe next year ... 😉 Thank you Heidi. ✝️💜🤗

[@RainCountryHomestead]

We have mojito mint growing IN our grass now in the back yard but love it because it makes a wonderful scent when mowed :)

[@jbrand255]

What if you plant it in a container?

[@trishthehomesteader9873]

@@jbrand255 It really doesn't matter where you plant it. The trick is not to let it flower and spread seed.😉 I hate to take away the bee and hummingbird food.🙁

[@RainCountryHomestead]

@@jbrand255 You can do that but you would still have to thin it out from time to time as it would quickly out grow the pot. I tried doing that with mint and it only is good in a pot for a year, maybe two

[@mysticmeadow9116]

Near my house spigot this grows wild. Found more of it today while barefoot lol. Guess that means it's time to harvest :) I've never sauteed it but that sounds yummy. I usually dry mine for tea.

[@Minnesota_Mama_Bear]

I hope to get some nettle growing by next year. 💚🌞, friends

[@eleonoreleveque2437]

You are a superstar! I am a swedish naturopath since 1978,studied herbmedicin for 50 years,but never heard of anything as smart as your idieas! What is your opinion of parboiling the nettles becauce of nitrit and other antinutrients as some herbalists say? Million tanks from Eleonore

[@michelleochinero1813]

Thanks. I've used dried nettle infusions since I started menopause and I believe it has helped with keeping the hot flashes down to manageable. Never tried growing it as I was stung once by an old plant by a river. Terrible pain for hours. Isn't it an invasive plant like mint? How do you keep it managed in your garden?

[@RainCountryHomestead]

Yes, it can be invasive but in the spring I simply pull back the runner to where I want the plant to be. I will do the same with mints and I grow them in all my garden areas as well.

[@rainkatt]

I just now jarred up some dehydrated nettle, I made a big pot of potato leek with nettle soup last week. I love, love love nettles now. I throw the dried in anything that I can. I found anything that would benefit from the addition of spinach takes nettle well.

[@karenpasquith6510]

Dumb question but the only experience I have with this is when my son was young and fell out of a tree into stinging nettle. Ouch! Lol. Anyway...Once you cook it or dehydrate it does that take care of the stinging part?

[@RainCountryHomestead]

Yes, it does, and I forgot to say that in the video, sorry about that! Sometimes I forget to say things because I have said them in other videos but this was something that needed to be repeated and it slipped my mind. I do cover that in the nettle video I linked to in the description box

[@karenpasquith6510]

@@RainCountryHomestead no problem. Loved this video and going to watch the other one now. Thank you I wish I had time to just sit and binge watch all your past videos. I'm having to do it a little at a time. I will adventually get there. 😊

[@wileyann9449]

Thanks for posting this video! I will go back and check your other videos also. To make sure I understand, the needles are destroyed by cooking or dehydrating?

[@RainCountryHomestead]

Yes, that is correct

[@marthathompson2012]

I looked for stinging nettle all last year, and though everyone says it’s everywhere I could not find it-so I bought seed, and am growing it

[@RainCountryHomestead]

It really does not grow everywhere, It prefers damp and cool climates. It can grow in drier, warmer climates but does not get very big or pervasive. It loves our climate and I know in the UK, it is pretty much everywhere.

[@kathhollandful]

Maybe nettle pesto? Not tried it, but just a thought.

[@jenniferr2057]

Have you made nettle soup? Actually good. I process and save chicken fat and use that for chicken dishes. A-mazing. Huge flavor boost.

[@RainCountryHomestead]

I have only added to soups but not made soup mostly from them

[@scottemminger9913]

Do the stingers stay on the leaf after you dehydrate or put them fresh in tea? Thank you! Great information!

[@RainCountryHomestead]

They become neutralized

[@judyrichards8365]

When is the best time to eat it fresh, spring, summer, fall?

[@RainCountryHomestead]

Spring and early summer before it goes to flower

[@WendyK656]

Heidi, do you get the sting when you cook the Nettle? I know when I had the tea, it was stinging my throat! Rick uses it all the time and he is okay with it!!! when I pick it I brake out really bad and feels like bee sting and I stay swelling up for a while. I used Plantain on it and it helped. Rick can pick it like you and has no problems with them.

[@RainCountryHomestead]

Once it is cooked or dried, it should not sting so if the tea was stinging your throat, you may be allergic to it

[@WendyK656]

@@RainCountryHomestead Heidi, do you think I should try it cooked?

[@RainCountryHomestead]

@@WendyK656 Maybe just a small amount first

[@WendyK656]

@@RainCountryHomestead Thank you Heidi, I am going to give it a try

[@marthaadams8326]

@@WendyK656 I have allergies to lots of things that are supposed to be good for you. have a friend who goes into shock with ginger - so proceed with caution since you did get some stinging please. Just from my experience.

[@lovinbluegrass]

Have you any information on purple dead nettle? It's time to start harvesting soon. I'd appreciate your point of view.

[@RainCountryHomestead]

I have only read a little about it, I know it has nutritional and medicinal properties though do not remember what all it is good for. I also know it is in the lamiaceae family which means it is a mint

[@millboroquiltersouthdakota6037]

Have t out of control in our horse pasture on our creek so my question is.... is it wild? Or are there different types of stinging nettle? They get about 10 feet high and the base s huge so we cut it about 4 feet High bale it up and dump it n blow outs n assured or we burn the bales... thank you could make ropes from the sticks! So do I dare use t for tea?

[@RainCountryHomestead]

Without seeing it myself, I cannot tell you for certain if it is Urtica Dioaca but it likely is. In the right climate, it can get very tall. When I allow mine to grow and go to seed, it gets at least 8 feet tall now. Another thing to know is that it makes a great fertilizer for your garden. If you would like, you can email me some photos of the plants as a whole and close ups of the leaves and leaf clusters and I should be able to tell you if it is true stinging nettle

[@marthaadams8326]

You can order some free programs for a Kindle on Amazon that will identify wild edibles - just point it at the plant and it will tell you what it is and my program is only edibles.

[@TheLeisamarie]

The seeds i ordered from you two years ago have established beautiful plants. They are sending out little seedy tendrils. Can I still harvest the leaves or should I wait until the seed drops?

[@RainCountryHomestead]

I do all my harvest before it seeds then stop to allow it to produce seed for my store. If you have no intention of saving the seeds, just keep harvesting all season long

[@TheLeisamarie]

@@RainCountryHomestead thank you so much!

[@alancarlyon3928]

Yes we all automatically make an appointment with our Doctor/s as he/she is qualified to prescribe tablets/medication/s for our ailments. remedies that one can search for themselves on You Tube like liquids, fruit and herbs/spices! I was bad for sciatica and arthritis, now free from them both due to me finding spices on you Tube that has fixed these! Do your own defective search and reap the rewards! After all there are long queues to see our Doctors now a day!

[@carollewis6057]

I have always thought of n Nettle of a weed that burns my hand. I must be highly allergic to it because my hands swell up and get red and burn like nobody's business. I couldn't imagine ever eating it ouch.

[@salettamyers8845]

Same here but after reading the comments & watching the videos I'm learning- years ago we had a dish network guy need in a area & that was my first time seeing a grown man cry- he had it everywhere, the weeds were waist deep & he was crying😔Ever since then I've done what I can to protect everyone by trying to rid my yard of it-I thought it was black eyed Susan's when i purchased it many years ago🙄 All I could think to do for him was dawn dishsoap on wet washcloths🥺

[@lisa32469]

It's actually good cooked in eggs! Yes it seems weird to eat a weed that hurts, but it has a great flavor especially when its young!

[@m5cto2c16]

Where can I buy nettle plant? Thx

[@RainCountryHomestead]

You can grow it quite easily from seed. I sell my seeds when available but did not get any last year as I harvested them too soon. Should be better this year though

[@ms.docileone]

lol, wish i could eat nettle that way, without teeth i will not chance, lol, i'll wait till i cook it :)

[@georgedonatelli4962]

Is nettle good for me 85yr old man

[@RainCountryHomestead]

Yes, it is, as long as you are not allergic to it

[@ediemurray1692]

Ty