RECIPE: How to make Homemade Stinging Nettle Pesto (with kids!)

alicekeverne
3 days ago
3 min read

A super delicious homemade healthy kids recipe that they can forage for, easily make and most of all - enjoy!

This Homemade Stinging Nettle Pesto Recipe is an absolute favourite in our household. Our kids love it so much that they insist on making it for playdates - they love to tell their friends that they are eating stinging nettles for dinner! It is a simple take on homemade pesto, with added health benefits (see below).

The pesto can be used with pasta, on fish, to enhance soup, wrapped in pastry, with houmous, on pizza... on anything you fancy!

What are the benefits of eating stinging nettles?

Stinging nettles are incredibly beneficial for a variety of reasons; they are like the superheroes of the plant world, packed with vitamins A, C, K, a bunch of B vitamins, plus a treasure chest of iron, calcium, magnesium, and potassium— an excellent way of boosting kids health. These leafy wonders also have anti-inflammatory properties that help alleviate symptoms of allergies and promote kidney health.

On top of that stinging nettles are a huge contributor in supporting ecosystems by providing habitats and food for wildlife, boosting biodiversity, and helping other plants thrive; like I said "super heroes of the plant world!"

How to avoid getting stung when picking stinging nettles

When foraging for stinging nettles it is a good idea to wear gloves, however if you fancy giving it a try, it is actually quite easy to pick stinging nettles with your bare hands. Once you know the technique, you'll be handpicking them sting-free in no time! We have made a quick blog and video on how to safely pick stinging nettles here.

How to eat stinging nettles without being stung

Once picked, you can blanch, steam or grind the nettles which will remove their sting. In this homemade Stinging Nettle Pesto recipe, you'll blanch the nettles.

When to harvest stinging nettles and what part of the stinging nettle to pick

The ideal time to harvest stinging nettles is during spring or early summer when the leaves are young, the stems are still tender and before the plant starts flowering - both the leaves and stems (and even roots!) are edible. Use scissors, gloved hands or your bare fingers (see our blog on safely picking stinging nettles with bare hands) to cut/pull off the top 4 inches of the nettle stem and leaves. This is the tastier part of the plant and it also allows the plant to continue growing.

Homemade Stinging Nettle Pesto Recipe

What you will need:

Ingredients

20g of freshly picked stinging nettles (see how to pick above)

60g fresh basil leaves on stems

50g pine nuts (or other nuts, cashew or almond work well)

2 cloves of garlic

1 lemon

25g parmesan cheese

150ml olive oil

Equipment

Chopping board

Knife

Food blender (I use a hand blender)

Frying pan

Cheese grater

If the kids are helping then they can measure out all the ingredients and help gather the equipment.

Step 1

Roughly chop the garlic (if the kids are joining in but they aren't ready for knives, get them to peel the garlic which is great for hand-eye coordination!) and slice the lemon in half. Grate the parmesan cheese.

Step 2

Blanch the stinging nettles by pouring a kettle of boiling water over them whilst the nettles are in a strainer (capture the water in a bowl, let it cool then use the nutrient rich water to feed your plants!).

Step 3

On a low heat, gently toast the pine nuts. Keep stirring and watch them continuously so they don't burn. Take them out of the pan once they have browned slightly.

Step 4

Place all of the ingredients, except the lemon, into a blender (or a bowl and use a hand blender) and blend everything together. Squeeze in half the lemon juice and blend again, taste and add more lemon if needed (we love ours lemony!). Add salt and pepper to taste. Simple!