There are so many wonderful things about spring–and it delights me to have fresh, mineral-rich and vitamin-laden green herbs pop up for us to bring into the kitchen and make those seasonal dishes that we can’t have the rest of the year. Nettles are a favorite of mine, and while I quite savor a nettle spanakopita and a salsa verde made with nettle, chickweed, dandelion, and sorrel or oxalis–nettle soup is a great comfort food besides being a spring tonic. 

Instrcutions for Making Soup:

I do not adhere to a strict recipe–I use what I have on hand or what I feel like. Start with a knob of unsalted butter and a few tablespoons of olive oil in a heavy-bottomed soup pot. Heat over medium heat and add a chopped onion or 2 chopped leeks and saute for a few minutes.

Add 2 to 3 medium-size potatoes, chopped. Stir and saute a few minutes and add 2 stalks celery and 2 carrots, chopped. Stir, cover and sweat for a few minutes.

This last soup that I made, I had some steamed golden beets, so I chopped a large one and added it to the pot (I never did this before however it was quite nice).

I usually add a fresh bayleaf to most soups and I used about 5 or 6 cloves of minced garlic and a couple teaspoons of seaweed flakes. Stir the contents of the pot and add about 6 cups of vegetable stock, cover and bring just to a boil; reduce heat and simmer for about 15 minutes until veggies are tender.

Add 4 to 6 cups nettles leaves, cover and wilt them for a few minutes. Taste for seasoning and add sea salt and freshly ground pepper to taste, along with a pinch or two of cayenne pepper and perhaps 6 or 8 drops of bitters.

Stir well, adjust seasoning if necessary and serve as is, or puree part or all of the soup with a immersion (stick) blender. I prefer to have at least half to three-quarters of the soup pureed. Serve hot; it is quite good made in advance.

An option is to add 1 cup of whipping cream to the soup when blending it; it makes for a rich soup. If you don’t have nettles, try some other mixed spring greens from the garden: chickweed, dandelion, sorrel, spinach, chard or cress.

Enjoy a lovely bowl of spring soup soon!

Fine Gardening Recommended Products

Gardener's Log Book from NYBG

Fine Gardening receives a commission for items purchased through links on this site, including Amazon Associates and other affiliate advertising programs.

This weatherproof five-year log book includes the following features: · Sturdy waterproof cover to protect pages from rain and muddy soil · Lined pages and gridded paper for plotting beds · Five years of 12-month bloom and harvest grids for recording what you planted and when · Authoritative appendices on composting, pruning, pest and disease control, and container gardening · Useful reminders by season on fertilizing, mulching, and transplanting · Space for listing your favorite sources and suppliers.

Buy at Amazon

Berry & Bird Rabbiting Spade, Trenching Shovel

Fine Gardening receives a commission for items purchased through links on this site, including Amazon Associates and other affiliate advertising programs.

Ideal Tool for All Gardeners Use: Our heavy duty trenching shovel is designed by a professional gardening tool designer. Lifetime Durability: This heavy duty drain spade is made of high-quality stainless steel, it is very strong and durable, even if it is used for high-strength work, it will not bend. Ergonomic Wood Handle: The handle of this planting spade is made of ash hardwood harvested from FSC-certified forests and has an ergonomically streamlined design, making it very suitable for everyone's hands. Multi-Use: This digging shovel is generally used for digging trenches, digging holes, transplanting, edging, moving compost, cutting thick turf and furrowing. The sharp blade allows you to cut, scoop, dig, lift and dice in hard soil.

Buy at Amazon

A.M. Leonard Deluxe Soil Knife & Leather Sheath Combo

Fine Gardening receives a commission for items purchased through links on this site, including Amazon Associates and other affiliate advertising programs.

MULTITASKING DUAL EDGES: a deep serrated edge and a tapered slicing edge ideal for tough or delicate cuts. DURABLE 6-inch stainless steel blade withstands 300 lbs of pressure. TWINE CUTTING NOTCH, DEPTH GAUGE MARKINGS & spear point - no need to switch tools when using this garden knife. LEATHER SHEATH: heavy duty, protective, clip on sheath to keep your knife convenient and secure. LIFETIME WARRANTY.

Buy at Amazon