Stinging Nettle Soup - 18th Century Cooking

[@townsends]

Brass Kettle www.townsends.us/products/one-gallon-brass-trade-kettle and Spider Skillet www.townsends.us/products/spider-skillet-fp266-p-1206

[@yayasorensen4351]

It's like watching Bob Ross as a chef instead of a painter. Sooo relaxing and makes you want to try doing it.

[@peterwilliams3672]

77777((7’Yaya Sorensen

[@Drunk3n1rish2009]

Accurate. I completely agree. Love this channel

[@animequeen78]

A good way to learn survival when our society implodes on itself.

[@francisdrake6622]

@@animequeen78 Well that'll never happen...er wait...

[@skittlesbutwithchocolatein2274]

quite

[@blessedwithchallenges9917]

I love the taste. I put it in Ramen with peas, making Ramen a bit nutritious. I drink it just like tea and eat the leaves like cooked spinach. Don't be scared of the sting, drop it in hot water and the sting is gone in seconds. If you let the dry leaves sit for a few days the sting dries up and you can eat it raw, but it's a papery texture, so not as fun to eat. I just this morning got a wasp sting and my hand was throbbing. I could see the little red spot on my palm, and it really stung. I put nettle tea (in my fridge) on the spot - just a half teaspoon or so, and within seconds the sting was gone - and 20 minutes later I can't see the spot! How cool is that? A stinging nettle can relieve wasp stings! Nature is awesome...thank you God for being so creative as we discover all these things with wonder...

[@charityhebert2640]

"A little bit of butter" *dumps like an entire stick of butter in the pan* I like this guy

[@hanwenhengliu3776]

Just like Gordon Ramsay's "dash of olive oil". That's a chef for you

[@swaters5127]

A stick is a little bit.

[@kalleandersson916]

If you have enough butter you can do anything

[@JackSilver1410]

I get a lot of nettles growing around here and they've tagged me more than a few times... Come springtime, I think it's time I got some payback.

[@dragunovbushcraft152]

+Laughing Man You WON'T regret it! :)

[@ericward8459]

Hell yeah!

[@internetguy8075]

It's the circle of life.

[@Greentrees60]

Just don't mix up nettles and thistles!!

[@guerraflorida]

Darth Karnis 😂

[@spencerjackson2007]

I start watching one video and next thing I know its an hour or so later and I've watched a handful. I find history so fascinating, especially culinary history, being a cook myself. I wish I grew up in Massachusetts instead of California. So much history in the streets of Boston, Concord and the like, I'm truly envious of the life you get to live! Keep up the amazing work, love the channel!

[@townsends]

+Spencer Jackson Thanks for the great comment. I know what you mean about local history, there is not much that happened right where we are at until the 1820's, a little late for my taste. Hey we make do... Thanks for watching!

[@guccidan2026]

+Jas. Townsend and Son, Inc. Please don't ever stop making these videos. I have been on your channel all day!

[@HunterSentinel]

You should visit, I'm sure if you enjoy history you'd probably really enjoy joining a reenactment or visiting historical sites. I enjoy visiting historical sites every year and all parts of the year. My taste for history comes from my mother and her fascination with ancestry and history of the area. Maybe look into your history and visit sites of historical significance.

[@thomasnichols180]

Gucci Dan I would like to have one of your catalogs

[@robertsroberts1688]

hes in indiana

[@RedSpiralHandTV]

Sooooooooo happy to see you promoting nettles as food. We collect them when they are larger, also....just strip the leaves off the stems. When they start getting ready to bloom you don't want to eat them...hard on the kidneys at that point. Nettles are a superfood and more nutritionally dense than seagreens, blue green algae and other "popular" superfoods. We also tincture them and collect a lot of extra and dry them to store for making herbal infusions (strong tea) during the wintertime. They are medicinally used for menopause, man-o-pause (haha), allergies, to strengthen bones and tonify the major organs. They are full of minerals and better than any vitamins you can go buy in a bottle (something we never do.) Thanks for bring nettles to a broader audience.

[@Popebug]

Nettle soup is relatively popular in Sweden, even today.

[@mixererunio1757]

Nettle tea is very popular in Poland

[@carramills8270]

It used to be popular in the British isles until recently but people have lost their culture here in the last few decades.

[@levibergstein4541]

Same here in Finland. Nettle pancakes too!

[@nairb2693]

@@carramills8270 waaaaaaaaah

[@paendabear21]

@@nairb2693 why are you crying like a baby? Is this supposed to be a jeer/jest at someone who is disappointed in the lack of cultural commitment in the Western world. Or is it just a representation of what you are: someone who isn't smart enough to respond with something other than the represented sound of a baby crying. Or maybe you are just an actual baby child, in that case you aren't supposed to be here without parental supervision.

[@IrishKeshiHead]

is it me.. or is this video a bit shorter than it should have been.. it just abruptly ends

[@tammyt3434]

You can hear the closing theme start up and get cut off, so you're correct.

[@ricktwisty5636]

As soon as he said it was the perfect time to go out and pick them, the cameraman went off to pick them.

[@JohnDoe-jz7bj]

@@ricktwisty5636 Haha

[@Borkomora]

perhaps some copyright issues or something so he just cut it off in post

[@RinnzuRosendale]

Dude couldn't wait to go pick em.

[@Bauhauskiddo]

Nettle soup is an old-fashioned Swedish meal too, we usually put a halved boiled egg with the yolk side up in the soup once it's done and ready to serve.

[@indiareiss434]

I'll try that with my next time that sounds good

[@stamasd8500]

I love nettle soup. It's comfort soup for me, I grew up on it when I was a kid. The backyard of my current property includes a little part of a wooded area, but unfortunately when I moved here I realized that the wood didn't have any nettles. No problem, I bought nettle seeds, sowed them in part of my garden then next year I transplanted the rhizomes in the woods. Now I have nettles in abundance every spring. Plus they deter deer and other pests which is always very nice. In fact, soup is only one of the way you can cook nettles. Any dish where you'd use spinach or other greens, you can use nettles. Do you like creamed spinach? Try creamed nettle, it's surprisingly good. One word on prep. I recommend that you use only the leaves - don't try to chop and use the stalks (unlike the video). The stalks are very fibrous, and even boiled a long time they will still be stringy. Also a caution on which nettles not to use. After they've bloomed, don't try to cook them. True they would be easier to pick as they stop stinging so much but there's a health risk. Tradition says they "promote flow of urine" but when they have flowers, all they promote is kidney stones.

[@justinhicks6816]

good info!

[@heyitsisela6482]

Thanks!

[@knot4man]

Native Americans made cordage of nettle fiber to make nets to catch rabbits, and bowstrings.

[@brendankeane5725]

I live in Ireland, and made this recipe the same night I viewed this video. Every bit as delicious as described. Wonderful healthy and deeply green green. Go raibh maith agat.

[@deepashtray5605]

Do you have a video demonstrating fire management? It looks like you are balancing between cooking on the coals, the open fire and assuring a readily supply of hot coals. Looks to be worth its own video.

[@townsends]

Deep Ashtray Great suggestion, I'll put it on the list... Thanks for Watching!

[@Countscoup]

How do these video's not have more views and likes? Not only are these video's informative and interesting but the production quality is outstanding!

[@Forevertrue]

These historical foods and methods are timeless. Useful to all of us and should be cherished as water in the desert.

[@BeverleyW]

Thank you for demonstrating this recipe. I was excited about your mention of Hannah Glasse, as my Mum discovered that we are related to her (my Mum's maiden name was Glasse). Thank you for all your wonderful videos - your channel was recommended to me in a homesteading discussion, but as I'm home schooling, we are working through all your videos gradually, from the oldest and learning so much. From a UK fan ☺️

[@1fanger]

You can also utilize stinging nettles in summer. Just hold the whole stem over a fire so the leaves wilt. That destroys the irritating chemicals in the leaves and tender stem parts. The mature stems also have tough fibers that can be used for cordage.

[@animequeen78]

Yep. That way, the nettles won't bite back when you eat them.

[@tuttuti123]

@@animequeen78 cooking them in boiling water destroys the acid in them. Putting it over the fire is probably used for handling it safely

[@maggimadison9253]

Stinging nettles were also a remedy for asthma and breathing problems ❤️❤️ thank you for posting this

[@greedy_wolf]

It looks delicious! :) We still make nettle soup occasionally.. but instead of bread usually potatoes and eggs are used, adding sorrel is also very popular. The younger people don't really like it as nettles are thought of as just weeds, but i'm sure every Latvian grandma knows how it's done. One can even find nettle soup in traditional cuisine restaurants.

[@Flashblade]

This is amazing. This is what I think living in my hometown must have been like in 1800. Thank you for bringing this part of American history to life.

[@bigmack8307]

Thank ya'll for keeping history alive :)

[@inesolujic2534]

Nettle tea is popular in a lot of countries, especially for UTI health (sort of like cranberry juice), and nettle soup was a meal that many poor people across Europe relied on, especially in times of famine and war. So interesting to see this recipe!

[@christophersheffield9574]

Great video. Love to see nettle gaining more attention. Its so ridiculously abundant in parts of the world and really delish. Wilted greens and soups are the best. I had some experience with nettle living in the Douglas Fir country of Oregon. One good way to make a nettle soup modern is Bacon Grease Mirepoix Flour Chicken Stock Nettle Heavy Cream Saute/soften mirepoix in grease. Add nettle and wilt well. Add flour to make a blonde roux. Add chicken Stock and cook for a bit. Add cream and blend smooth. Pretty delish.

[@strongarmize]

I have nettles around our house and I made this soup tonight. I used unami powder instead of making the mushroom ketchup. It turned out delicious and very filling. A great recipe that uses simple, inexpensive ingredients. I enjoy watching your channel and will have to try more of your recipes!

[@Pieces_Of_Eight]

"Cooked until it's done making noise," brilliant! And come spring, this is the first foraging ingredient I hope to sift out of the flora to prepare this soup. My grandmother used to make it, and I look forward to the chance to try it once more. Cheers!

[@MrBandit1953]

We do this recipe with "pigweed" or Amaranthus, along with with stewed chicken or pork. Although I love the bread I instead serve it over cooked wild rice or Masarati long grain rice. Thanks for the wonderful videos, love them all!

[@isabellainnorway]

Made some nettle soup yesterday(live in Norway for now). But, I added a veg. oxo cube, a garlic and a small potatoe( for thickening). Then, I pureed it and tossed some home made croutons made from stale bread on top. Even my 13 year old finicky son ate it!. Just subbed to you, by the by as I just found your channel. Can,t waite to hunker down and enjoy more of your exciting vids. Thanks!

[@candiwalkowski7480]

It's a bit different than what I grew up eating - nettles sautéed in butter, boiled, and then with cream added. Paired well with tea! We also soaked in salt water, and then boiled twice bracken fern fiddleheads, and usually picked them around the same time we picked stinging nettle - the sap from the fern alleviated stings. Mountain huckleberry (V. membranaceum) leaves from here in the Northwest make a great tea for an insulin substitute in an emergency, something my grandmother found out from a Tillamook elder who once shared a hospital room with her boyfriend. I wouldn't be surprised to find out that Northwest settlers drank it, too. What did they use on the east coast - did they use a similar plant, like bilberry?

[@NAMDOG54]

I love this channel, just found it tonight and have been browsing it all evening. I've been a wild foods forager for several decades, just wanted to add a couple of things. Nettles make a fine linen, the stems make excellent cordage, they are high in protein for a plant, and last of all when I gather them I use thin leather gloves, kitchen shears, and a pair of long handled hot -dog tongs. Thanks so much, your posts are excellent...........

[@AltimaNEO]

This video ended... so abruptly

[@BushcraftMood]

foraging and eating nettles...one of my favorites plants !

[@cherylgrout]

I have spent my most of my quarantine reading colonial american travelers diaries; but after finding your videos, I've been binge watching and loving it! Oh my goodness! After watching this video, I realized this stuff is in our woods. I went out and collected some and made this soup. Great tasting soup! Only mine didn't look like soup because I probably added too much flour. Thank you for your videos💖

[@timpeters407]

Try making a Potato, nettle soup using chicken stock, puree and then strain it if using older nettles(gets rid of stringy bits). Nettle Spanikopita are excellent as well. Steamed with lemon juice and feta is a easy everyday go to.

[@johnlambert8929]

wow that sounds really good thank you for your comment!

[@ΣπυρίδωνΔούκας]

in Greece we would call that kind of spanikopita, hortapita which basically translates to "wild greens pie"

[@Outoinen]

My grandmother used to make nettle soup, but she added cream to it. Eating nettles is becoming popular here in Finland, because it has so much iron.

[@kcatto21]

wonderful video as always... we are excited now, a new recipe to try and we have lots of nettles on our property.... finally something to use nettles for.... thank you again...

[@louis5668]

Townsends has been making such quality content for so long. Absolutely awesome

[@jamesfrearson9630]

Probably the most charming cooking apparatus I've ever seen. Well presented video too.

[@brigidscullion8783]

I love the contents, presentation and the location of this video. Wonderful.

[@clairestadtmueller2772]

I am so happy to have found you! I recently purchased a home built in 1750 and 1820, and there is an abandoned garden bad filled with nettles, growing in a floor of poison ivy. I have made nettles pesto (with nutritional yeast instead of parmesan cheese), and I will make your 18th century recipes! Thank you.

[@TheCrimsonking07]

Always plugging that mushroom ketchup, I love it!!!

[@theecapitan]

This is so interesting... I have a whole crop of these in my back garden. Been cutting them down but I will happily try this.

[@utej.k.bemsel3199]

Because these are so fantastic plants, i've planted them in my garden!

[@davidfiebert2335]

Great video. I always learn something new and useful from you. Keep them coming.

[@rubenskiii]

Nettles are very important plants, not only to eat but also to see certain chemical values of the land, nettles are great to find fertille land. Maybe a good subject for a video? A lot of things we nowadays research in a lab can be discovered by studying the flora and fauna of a region. Maybe a video about five ways farmers from the 18th century knew when to act.

[@utej.k.bemsel3199]

I use them as a fertilizer, you can brew some nettle tea to use it for your plants, or you can dry the whole plant, shred it and put it on the roots of your plants. And the fresh tea repells aphids and other pests.

[@Hercules1-v9m]

stinging nettle makes a great, soothing tea for a sore throat

[@j.niccicoffie3272]

That's a cool rustic kitchen.

[@Melvorgazh]

Kinda perfect vid! ;) Cheers! And Happy Easter!

[@laurametheny1008]

Excellent information!😍

[@msfarnum1]

I can't wait till next Spring.

[@zelder7409]

“You might want to wear gloves when you pick these” *goes in with his bare hand with absolutely no hesitation*

[@gemmag.2988]

Ikr. Ninja!!!

[@corbeau-_-]

emphasis on _you_ ;)

[@jessicag630]

1:27 That plant is called as jelatang in the place where I live. The variant here has uroshiol that causes really bad rash that is extremely itchy. It's surprising that it can actually be cooked.

[@dragunovbushcraft152]

I absolutely love your video channel, and subscribed. I'm an outdoor survival instructor, and love primitive cooking. I thought this nettle soup recipe was really nice. I have nettles every year, and I even pick individual leaves off during the summer, as they have a delicious, robust flavor. I save the tough stems to make my own cordage. I have two recipes for nettle soup, and paste. Just enough beef, vegetable, or chicken stock, to cover nettles, very finely chopped onions, green onions, or leeks, salt, pepper and if you like, a pinch of garlic powder. Everything is to your taste, you can add more stock if you like. The beauty of nettles, more than any other green, is that it stands perfectly well on its own without much spicing. Simmer until nettles are tender, then serve..... That's it! very simple. :) To make the paste, reduce soup, or drain nettles, puree, then spread on home made flour/cattail tortillas, or a flatbread. I served this at a church function, and everyone loved it. It was one of the first things that disappeared.

[@townsends]

+Dragunov Bushcraft Thanks for sharing your take on this idea!

[@ArmorDoge]

Awesome. You're the man.

[@fortbumper]

what a good video again! very tasty food at the price we all can take any time.We love the kitchen the tools in it the cheerful cook and no one never smile too much.Please keep making those encouraging videos.We are looking to buy good knives from you.Thank you.

[@RinnzuRosendale]

The camera man was so excited to "go out and pick em" that he couldn't wait.

[@truthseeker5796]

😂 I was like "why did the video suddenly come to an abrupt end"

[@kyuutatsu]

This is so awesome, we have nettles growing wild in the forest out back I'm definitely making this for us

[@Pottan23]

My grandma makes this every spring/summer and bakes stinging nettle pies. So tasty!

[@deannastevens1217]

Looks delicious!

[@pnysher1]

my grandmother used to make this when i was a young lad, along with dandylion salad

[@VomicaEmanio]

My family (in Sweden) have been cooking this every year. We usually pick the nettles while *wearing gloves* though; makes it a lot more pleasant

[@TheAstralthief]

I love it. Simple and beautifully done. 🔥Thank you. ✌🏽💚

[@sallys1179]

Love your teaching show.

[@serdalkaptan]

Excellent presenttion, amazing kitchen, awesome recipe. Thank you my friend. Regards from uptown Canada.

[@janecollette9504]

A wonderful recipe. I love your show.

[@simonesmit6708]

I make nettle pesto and tea but I've never made soup with them. This must change. Thank you for sharing the recipe.

[@krivak52]

This recipe is amazing. It reminds me of my childhood, because grandma often used nettles instead of a spinach in recipes during early spring. Thank you.

[@Supersonic_Sloth]

This brings back memories. I haven't had nettle soup in more than 50 years, but I still remember it from childhood. A poor man's replacement for spinach.

[@otakop67]

Videos like this make me so glad I subscribed to your channel.

[@jessicabrady6327]

So glad I found your channel! I love all the recipes and your knowledge. It may seem silly, but I like learning about this kind of stuff, what if we all need to go off the grid and live off the land? Its good to know what to do in case you ever need to.

[@townsends]

I am so glad you found us, thank you for the kind comment and sharing your concerns.

[@noukiblue7478]

Amazing channel, thank you !

[@rythymroach]

Definitely will try this spring! Already knew stinging nettle as survival food but this looks tastier! :)

[@DominusEstOK]

So addicted to these videos.

[@tummy_fritters]

I really enjoy your videos. I come back to them again and again for entertainment and inspiration. I'm interested in the time period and I was wondering if you could suggest some documentaries that could shed more light on life as it was in America in the 18th century.

[@redredpi]

I make nettle tea as well and drink it through out the day..great energy drink. In the eveining take a mason jar and fill half way with dried nettle or all the way to the top with fresh un cut,pour hot water over it and seal the lid on over night. In the morning and strain the tea and compost the leaves,great vitamins as well.

[@andreamai]

I planted some nettle seeds in May, and they just started growing in August. Looking forward to try some nettle soon.

[@superepictoyreviews4kids676]

it is almost midnight and i made it immediately after watching this.

[@djynfxxbdhtbrn6854]

I came here from the pemmican soup video, I'm going to the mushroom ketchup video from here and, no doubt, I'll end up on another video from there. Sleep is less important.

[@carramills8270]

Lol

[@michaelpreston233]

Thanks J, all this time I've been weeding those things from my garden, now I'll cook them.

[@townsends]

michael preston We're discovering that there are so many other "weeds" just like these. We plan to do a series, probably next year, on wild edibles.

[@johnlambert8929]

Jas. Townsend and Son, Inc. sounds very interesting Jas!!!!!!!!!

[@MegaWetwilly]

if you can find copies online, euell gibbons did 2 articiles for national geographic on living off wild foods, well worth the look if you can find them, from i think the 1972/74 years.

[@kraken138]

Jas. Townsend and Son, Inc. I highly suggest you look into Arthur Haines who wrote two recent books called--Ancestral Plants. He also has many fantastic youtube clips, as well. He knows all about the various uses of wild plants and wild edibles.

[@davehendricks4824]

Just made nettle soup. Oh my god was it delicious!

[@Blutteufel]

When I finally go crazy and run off to the wilderness to build a house, I'm totally making a stove like that.

[@Sakitsunebi]

Cool, I'm not the only one who plans to run off and build a house in the wilderness

[@wemakeasiansurveys4U]

Primitive Technology can help with that.

[@Blutteufel]

Johnny Nguyen Yeah, but I think most people would prefer to build a home that _can't_ be smashed apart by a light breeze.

[@kylekafka6636]

His clay houses are pretty sturdy. I too get the occasional urge to run off into the wilderness.

[@Blutteufel]

Kyle Kafka Even if they are, I am going to need something significantly sturdier. Around here, we have more bears, cougars and other nasty critters per capita than people.

[@stephanier5748]

Love the style of this video

[@anonsforever_]

These are the type of videos I want to see more of. Wild edibles were always used in practically every dish back in the days.

[@ddmagee57]

Townsends: Any nettles I've ever eaten were boiled, pour the water off, new water and boil again. This got rid of the sting. Are you sure you're not suppose to twice boil these?

[@kyranravencroft3853]

I really like these videos! And they history and explanations of WHY this and that makes them, well, a lit of things! Lol Im glad I came across this channel! 😊

[@babykitty7052]

I really enjoyed this video. Thank you for posting, subscribed

[@ryangmackeen]

Whoa watching this exactly 10 years after it was posted... I might have to go find some nettles today... Thank you!

[@carolinejayes157]

Delicious ,and easy recipe.!

[@corsa701]

That recipe sounds good. I will try it soon :)

[@zedreaboudoir]

I'm addicted to your videos

[@svetathompson9347]

Thank you for this recipe.

[@jamestaylor2607]

Marvelous, thank you!

[@haleywilson520]

I found this video on the exact date, eight years later! That's amazing

[@AnthropoidOne]

Love the videos James. You seem like a knowledgable guy. I so wish I could live in those times. I just don't fit in today...LOL. Maybe I can get up to your store sometime...but NC is a bit far away!

[@a_mustache_of_great_repute]

"Add in just a little butter" plops in a fist sized lump of butter

[@TomsBackwoods]

Awesome!!

[@no2religions]

Fresh to restaurants. They aren't so tasty that regular people will want to buy them and to store them they would need to be chopped, blanched and frozen into blocks like spinach... but look how little spinach sells for! :) You might do best to know the seasonal wild edibles around your area and having nettles as just one product. There are scores of other wild greens, fruits and veg that one could harvest throughout the growing months. Fiddleheads and mushrooms are where the money's at!

[@Jimdandy-w8c]

Love how he just grabbed the stuff like a pro

[@annagregg8401]

I am new to this site and am enjoying it tremendously. I have nettles growing outside my back gate in a field, I picked some this morning and made the nettle soup changing it a bit. I did what you did up until adding flour, didn't do that. I added some homemade chicken stock and enjoyed them like sauteed vegs. The taste is wonderful, so fresh. I like nettles better than spinach which can be a bit bitter. I have looked up the many benefits of nettles, they are so beneficial for many of our bodily issues. I will be picking more and using them in many ways from now on! ~I have never seen nettles flower, when do they produce seeds? ~Thank you for your most interesting information and videos. I have ordered your catalog.

[@archetypalculinarian]

Having worked in production kitchens where there is so much waste, it’s really enjoyable look back at these methods and traditions that aren’t really very old. Traditions that came to be because waste could result in starvation.

[@theBaron0530]

This reminded me of a line from the movie, "Hope and Glory". When his daughter and family relocate to the country to escape the Blitz in London, and they wonder how they'll feed themselves, Grandpa says, "We'll make nettle soup! Very nourishing!"