SPRING NETTLE PESTO
This pesto recipe is courtesy of Chef Nathan Jones at Ponzi Vineyards in Oregon.
ON BIG BLEND RADIO: A conversation with Linda Kissam and Max Bruening, winemaker at Ponzi Vineyards. Watch the podcast here in the YouTube player or download it on Podbean. Plus, check out Linda’s Ponzi Vineyards Wine Review.
Stinging Nettles grow indiscriminately, and generally bountiful in Oregon. The prime time to get picking them is in early spring and even into summer depending on the heat. Something like this pesto can help preserve the foraged flavors for a longer window of enjoyment.
Most people steer away from harvesting nettles, but adventurous chefs love the challenge. Named for a reason! The easiest way then to gather your haul is using some scissors and pretty thick leather gloves (picking the top, freshest leaves only). Long sleeves sure don’t hurt also.
Ingredients
- 4 cups (approx.) Fresh picked stinging nettles.
- 1 cup of grated parmesan or other similar hard cheese
- Juice and zest of 1 lemon
- 1 cup Hazelnuts, toasted
- 2 T Garlic- Chopped
- 1 cup Extra virgin olive oil
- Salt and pepper
Method:
- Firstly, blanch the nettles in boiling/salted water for no more than 30 seconds, then shock them by plunging them in a bowl of ice water. Secondly, drain and squeeze out as much moisture as you can using a tea towel or something similar. At this point, the “stinging” problem has been neutralized.
- In your food processer: combine nettles, cheese, lemon juice and zest, hazelnuts, and garlic. Pulse to begin to break down the nettles.
- Next, add as much olive oil needed to bring the batch to the consistency you prefer. (less for a paste, and more for a sauce)
- Season with salt and pepper.
Serves great on its own as a nice spread but is wonderful on a flatbread or lovely on pasta also.
Linda Kissam ‘Food, Wine & Shopping Diva’ is a professional travel, food, and wine writer based out of Southern California, who specializes in easy, breezy destination stories sharing her favorite things about the places she visits. Visit www.AllInGoodTaste.info.
