Wild herbs: what they are and how to cook them

Wild asparagus, mint, nettle, and elderflowers are some of the most common herbs you can pick in the fields and bring directly to the table. Elderflowers are perfect for making delicious fritters.

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wild herbs in the kitchen
Never seen, as during the entire pandemic phase, so many herbs, leaves and wildflowers. Hence the right time for the foraging, the practice of harvesting spontaneous ingredients that come from nature without waste, that is, without causing harm. This is possible and simple if you first follow three fundamental rules. The first: harvest only the useful part of the plant, without completely destroying it, and respecting it. The second rule: learn to identify the plant you're harvesting, even for a simple safety exercise. The third: always choose environments and locations far from sources of pollution, such as landfills. Three rules, for one goal: not to give up nature's biodiversity, even when we harvest its fruits.

Wild herbs to use in cooking

With these premises, summer plants, of many species, can become the raw material for very special dishes. From flower-only salads to desserts flavored with wild roses. From mugwort tops for spirit e infusions to flowers as a natural, red dye, for bechamel, creams, and desserts. Not to mention poppies: they're used to make a colorful drink, and as for the leaves, those picked before flowering can be sautéed in a pan. And then eaten on a slice of toasted bread, with a drizzle of olive oil. But let's take a look at the main edible wild herbs.

wild herbs in the kitchen

  • Wild asparagus

Very similar to the asparagus that we find at the market but smaller and more fragrant, wild asparagus are perfect in the preparation of omelettes and risottos.

  • Watercress

A wild plant that is excellent and widely used in cooking, especially in classic piadinas but also to prepare vegetable pies and omelettes.

  • Mauve

Mallow is well known for its medicinal properties as it is soothing, anti-inflammatory and emollient. In the kitchen we can use it in salads and to prepare risottos and omelettes.

  • Pennyroyal

Extremely fragrant and highly prized in Roman cuisine, mint is primarily used to flavor dishes. It can be used both in cooking and fresh, sprinkled on dishes.

  • Chicory

A plant much appreciated for its bitter taste which can be enjoyed, after having boiled it, either sautéed in a pan with garlic, oil and chilli pepper or with a knob of vegetable butter homemade.

  • Wild rocket

Wild arugula is very similar to the one found in markets, except it's smaller but equally fragrant and delicious. We can use it like traditional arugula in all our dishes.

wild herbs cooking recipes 3

They can be added fresh at the end of cooking or enjoyed raw in salad: so they won't lose their color and consistency. To be safe, choose only the flowers Grow them from seed in your garden or purchase them from organic nurseries specializing in vegetable or food plants. Avoid picking flowers in city parks and meadows, especially if the city is heavily polluted by smog.

 Edible flowers

Edible flowers also go well with plants.

  • Nasturtium

A robust and easy-to-grow plant: just place it in a bright spot and provide well-drained soil. Nasturtium flowers have a sweet flavor.

  • Pansy

Sweet and with a herbaceous aftertaste similar to that of lettuce, Pansy can be used to decorate spoon desserts: try it with the panna cotta.

  •  Chrysanthemum

Present in many different colors, chrysanthemum petals have a bitter taste, perfect for rebalancing the taste of some dishes that could be too sweet such as pumpkin risotto.wild herbs cooking recipes 4

How to use wild herbs

Use the dandelion To prepare many delicious recipes. It is also a diuretic, a liver booster, and a valuable ally of the immune system. Common nettle is a plant that grows wild almost everywhere: anti-anemic, rich in vitamins, and excellent for digestion, it can also be used in cooking for our health. Finally, with elderflower, a fragrant plant with an intense flavor, it is possible to prepare many delicious dishes. pancakes.

Books on cooking wild herbs

We suggest a few. First of all Edible wild herbs by Riccardo Luciano and Carlo Gatti (published by Araba Fenice). Then there are the 24 recipes presented in the illustrated book. Medical plants by Simmonds, Irving and Howes (Guido Tommasi editions). And finally My Wild Garden by Shaley and Shir (Bompiani editions).

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