Sunday 25 April 2010

rich pickings

After a lean winter the foraging season is well under way. Last week I enjoyed the earthy taste of some nettle soup. I'd forgotten just how much I like it. This weekend, inspired by this recipe, I made a nettle and yarg risotto.


It was one of the best risottos I've ever made. I mostly followed the recipe - including the new-to-me method of dry frying the arborio rice, which not only shortened the cooking time, but also added a depth of flavour. My only substitution was using three-cornered leek (grows like a weed down here) instead of onion and garlic.


I garnished mine with some crumbled yarg, and the delicate white flowers from the three-cornered leek.


I also picked a large basketful of wild garlic. This is far harder to find locally, but my neighbour pointed me to a nearby patch. (Liz, do you want to know where?). The other day I gently sauteed some leaves in butter. Delicious.


This lot is destined for soup, I think. It's been a rather satisfying weekend for eating. I also made some more tiffin. Because it's quick, delicious, and goes beautifully with both morning coffee and afternoon tea.

22 comments:

Fiona said...

I've never heard of three cornered leek. Perhaps it doesn't grow round here. But our local woods are full of wild garlic. What exactly do you do with it?

Unknown said...

where where?? I think there's some near Trevarno and Miles the Forager sells it in the farmers market - but if you have a secret stash...

harmony and rosie said...

We have three-cornered leek growing rampant in our garden, I've been meaning to pull it all up but now I know a better way of dealing with it, thank you! We take advantage of free wild garlic when we go down to Dorset (there's plenty there) but sadly we're forced to pay for it here in London, my 7-year old is crazy about the stuff! Your risotto sounds delicious and isn't it so satisfying when most of it's come from the land, for free. x

WinnibriggsHouse said...

The 3 cornered leek is new to me too, but love the recipes and am itching to try them.

alice c said...

Goodness, so delicious that I ma starving after reading that post. I may have to stop reading logs BEFORE breakfast and it will all be your fault.

Lisa said...

It all sounds very healthy and tasty too!
Lisa x

Anonymous said...

Wild garlic, spinach and leek - sounds like thee holy trinity of foraging!

rachel said...

Nice post - and 3-cornered leeks are new to me too. I must try your nettle risotto next - the ground elder soup I made yesterday )with hardly any decent ingredients in the fridge) was delicious!

Reading Tea Leaves said...

I've never had nettle soup Diana and I may just attempt to make this risotto recipe. I've been coming across some nettles on my walks and I do love foraging. A friend has wild garlic growing profusely in her garden but I've not come across three-cornered leeks. Such pretty flowers.

Enjoy your tiffin this afternoon!

Jeanne
x

Just Cook It said...

Gorgeous. Great job!

kristina said...

Oh this all looks and sounds delicious! And of course reminds me of our foraging course! K x

julie said...

sounds delicious and your photos are beautiful - so fresh.

A Bun Can Dance said...

Hi Diana
Ooh I do love your foraging recipes! Last week I made wild garlic risotto which was so lovely :-)
But I've not tried nettle risotto / soup before - so I must go check the recipes!
wishing you a happy week,
Denise x

Diane said...

I love foraged food. The Yarg goes so well with nettles (as it is coated in them if I remember rightly!).

Baa-Me Kniits said...

I haven't eaten nettles for years, my mum used to cook them. I don't think we get them up here in Far North Queensland? Haven't seen them so will have to check! Three cornered leeks sounds great and I loved the look of the flowers.

Gina said...

The risotto sounds wonderful.

Julia said...

It sounds amazing!! I like the sound of those leeks, not heard of them before but they sure sound good!

Love Julia x x x

driftwood said...

I have lots of nettles, now I know what to do with them! just need to find some wild garlic.......

A time to dance said...

Your photographs are so lovely, they remind me of the Toast catalogues...hope you are well...

willow said...

Have you been watching the BBC "grow your own drugs" programme. Last night he made nettle tea which as well as being packed with nutrients is apparently good for hay-fever. Its amazing how nutritious and medicinal some of these "weeds" are.

Petit Filoux said...

This is absolutely amazing! I would love to forage, but just don't know where to start or where to go!

Purrfect Haven said...

well this a FIRST for me... not because I have eaten this, but because I have heard of it (via you)... most intersting. I think I could get into foraging a bit.. and not just because I have got lost in some god forsaken place for two days, but properly, like you... enjoying eating what I forage. Food for thought. Thanks. Love Helen