Nettles Pesto Sauce
Nettle Pesto tossed in spaghetti
Ingredients
2 cups fresh nettles ( blanched)
2 cups arugula
1 cup basil
1/2 cup raw pumpkin seeds
1 clove of Garlic
1/2 tsp sea salt
1/4 cup nutritional yeast
3/4 cup olive oil
Blanch Nettles:
Directions: Bring a pot of water big enough for your nettles to boil. Set up a cold bowl bath for them to be ready ( Cold water and some ice). Once water is rolling in a boil add your nettles using tongs to protect from getting stung and submerge them for 1 min. Remove from water with tongs and place in cold bowl immediately. Let them hang out for 3 mins and then drain. Squeeze out extra liquid and set aside to use for pesto. If you remember-save the water you blanched them in ( the boiled water) and set aside to cook your pasta or other grains or drink when cooled.
Blanched Nettles
Pesto Directions:
-Add all ingredients to the blender or food processor and pulse until it is smooth and creamy. Toss pasta in your pesto or enjoy this sauce however you want!
Notes for Cooking:
-Pumpkin seeds provide an extra dose of magnesium which helps our body flow, sleep and be in subtle ease. Many of us are magnesium deficient and pumpkin seeds can be a nice way to get in extra mags. With eclipse season and pandemic waves we need ease. Pumpkin seeds wont give it all but they taste yummy and gift us a little extra dose of support if we want it. You can also sub these for cashews or walnuts.
1 bunch of nettles/2 cups -source them from farmer’s market or if they grow where you reside harvest some but please only take a little. When I source them from the land I work on I use gloves and only take the leaves of what I need, leaving the stalk/stem because that way more will continue to grow. When prepping to cook with them please use gloves as well. You can use the whole ( stem and leaf) for this recipe or you could use the leaf for the pesto and save the stem for tea. If you cannot find nettles spinach or kale is a lovely substitute.
After blanching you should save the water you cooked them in and you can drink this ( very mineral rich) cold with some seltzer if you want or use the water to cook the pasta or another grain in or add it to a soup. I learned this trick in nutrition school- you can save the water from steaming or blanching other veggies as well. It is really great for picky eaters or sensitive tummies that may need extra nutrients and little ones too.
Nutritional and Energetic Benefits of Nettles:
Rich in chlorophyll, antioxidants- Vitamin C , Vitamin, A, and B vitamins. Protein ( yes leafy green’s have protein), calcium, iron, magnesium, manganese, zinc and copper. Nettles can offer a rich dose of vitamins and minerals. This can be great plant to add in to soups or as tea for folx who need extra nutrients and do not have time or access or ability to do lots of cooking/chewing. Nettles offer energetic boundaries, whole body nourishment/care, and help our bodies wake up with spring. They offer ease and give us energetic support to get thru the day ( with out a crash). Many people use nettles to help their bodies get ready for pregnancy as well as during and after pregnancy ( always check in with your practitioners first). Anyone an drink nettles ( as long as not allergic). Many people also use it as a spring tonic. They start to peak their green love this time of year and can be a wonderful plant to wake up the body after a long winter. Some folk magic and cultures have rituals with nettles which you can look into your ancestry to see. If you are making tea use dried leaves. I love them for allergy ease too. Nettles are also really good for post-covid healing and repair. They nourish our heart, cells, tissue, skin and more. Dry them for tea. Hang them in a space where you need more energetic boundaries. Offer them to a friend who may need whole nutrient support and boundary support. Make sure to blanch them first before eating in pesto, sauté or soup. I love this pesto on long spaghetti with red pepper flakes and extra olive oil. Keep in a sealed jar or container for up to 1 week. Freeze half for another meal. Do and nourish as you desire. Please remember to give gratitude and presence to the plant. Share and harvest/source respectfully.
Big Love and happy Cooking
xoxo
