Stinging Nettle Soup

Stinging Nettles tastes like spinach, but with a stronger flavor. When handling them, wear rubber or garden gloves, or tongs, as they cause a skin rash which stings! Rinse them in water, before removing the leaves. Cooked nettles are not only delicious, but also full of health benefits and… they lose their sting when cooked.
*Nettles can be either foraged in the wild or found at your local farmer’s market
-Serves 4-

Ingredients:
4-Tbsp organic butter
2- large leeks, white and light green ends chopped
4-cups of nettle leaves, rinsed
4-organic russet potatoes, peeled and sliced
4-cups organic vegetable stock
Salt and pepper
(¼ cup of heavy cream-optional)

Directions:
1- Heat the butter until foaming. Add the shopped leeks and cook for 4 minutes or until they look glossy.
2. Add the potatoes, and vegetable stock.
3. Simmer for 30 minutes. Add nettle leaves at the 25-minute mark.
4. Using an immersion hand blender, puree the soup. Return to heat and season to taste. Add cream if you wish.
*Once cooled, I froze some nettle soup in a freezer safe glass food jar. Once defrosted and heated up, it was perfection.
*To learn more about the health benefits of Stinging Nettles, read the blog posted in the Summer Issue 2018.