Spring foraging recipes

We've put together 3 easy to follow recipes using ingredients found in most fields, woods or hedgerows during the early part of the year

1. Nettle Soup (March)

A vibrant, nutrient-rich soup made with young spring nettles, picked early in the season before they flower. Did you know that nettles contain more iron and potassium than spinach, by weight?

Ingredients:

• 200g of young nettle leaves (washed and blanched). Choose just the top 2 sets of leaves from each plant
• 1 onion, diced
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 large potatoes, peeled and diced
• 1 litre vegetable stock
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• Salt and pepper to taste

Method:

1. Sauté the onion and garlic in olive oil until soft.
2. Add the diced potatoes and stock. Simmer for 20 minutes until the potatoes are tender.
3. Add the nettle leaves and cook for another 5 minutes.
4. Blend the soup until smooth, season to taste, and serve with crusty bread.

2. Wild Garlic Pesto (March)

A delicious twist on traditional pesto, perfect for pasta, sandwiches, or drizzling over roasted vegetables using wild garlic found in shaded woodlands

Ingredients:

• 100g wild garlic leaves
• 50g pine nuts (or walnuts for a twist)
• 50g Parmesan cheese (or nutritional yeast for a vegan option)
• 100ml olive oil
• Juice of half a lemon
• Salt and pepper to taste

Method:

1. Toast the pine nuts in a dry pan until golden.
2. Blend the wild garlic, pine nuts, Parmesan, olive oil, and lemon juice in a food processor until smooth.
3. Season to taste and store in an airtight jar in the fridge.

3. Seaweed Crisps (February and March)

A light and salty snack made from foraged seaweed such as Dulse or Laver, harvested from clean coastal areas. Check how clean your your local beach is by clicking here

Ingredients:

• Fresh dulse or laver seaweed
• Olive oil
• Sea salt

Method:

1. Preheat the oven to 180°C (350°F).
2. Wash and dry the seaweed thoroughly.
3. Toss in a little olive oil and spread on a baking tray.
4. Bake for 8-10 minutes until crispy. Sprinkle with sea salt and enjoy!

Want to learn more about foraging for wild ingredients? Find out out more about our forthcoming workshops in Hampshire, Dorset and Wiltshire by clicking here

We currently run foraging workshops throughout the year in the New Forest, on the Dorset coast and on Salisbury Plain. More details available by emailing hello@experiencehampshire.uk

‍

‍The information for this blog is supplier by an experienced forager. If you are ever in doubt about the identification of any plant or mushroom, do NOT eat it.

‍

"I took my mum, sister and my partner and had an absolutely fantastic time at the Winter Foraging and Fungi Workshop yesterday. Freya was a super host, really knowledgeable, fun and engaging. We were all newbies to foraging and despite the rain had the best time! It was so nice for the four of us to spend some quality time together doing something different and learning something new. We can’t wait to find our next activity with Experience Hampshire!"

"I have been on foraging walks before where the main emphasis is on finding food. The walk that I took with Lola was different. I’ve never met anyone with such an all-encompassing knowledge and understanding of plants and their properties - in folklore, for food, medicine and wellbeing. Lola is so tuned into nature, the seasons and wild plants, you can’t help but feel inspired"

"I had an absolutely fantastic time at the Foraging Workshop led by Freya! Her expertise in mushroom gathering was truly impressive, and she made the entire experience both educational and enjoyable"

"Your guide's knowledge of the local flora and fauna, particularly when it came to mushrooms, was outstanding. She took the time to explain not only how to identify different species but also their culinary uses and potential medicinal benefits. It was clear that she had a deep passion for the subject, and her enthusiasm was infectious"

"What really set this workshop apart was Freya's friendly and fun personality. She created a warm and welcoming atmosphere for everyone in the group. Her patience in answering questions and offering guidance to beginners like myself was greatly appreciated. It felt like spending the day with a knowledgeable friend rather than an instructor"

"I would highly recommend your Foraging Workshops to anyone interested in learning more about the incredible world of mushroom gathering and foraging. It's an educational, fun, and enriching experience that you won't want to miss. Thank you for an unforgettable day!"

‍