I first experienced stinging nettles on a hike in Cornwall, England.  I didn’t need a guidebook to tell me that my bare leg had rubbed against this herbaceous plant.  Or know that Latin root name means “I burn.” My first brush with this plant was an irritating day-long experience.

Gardeners on every continent, except Australia, curse the plant as they rip it out.

Big mistake.

When cooked stinging nettles make a delicious meal with a flavor that is cross between spinach and kale. Cooking, drying, crushing or chopping disables the stinging hairs.

Unlike spinach, I found that nettles don’t give off all that much water. They cook down well and absorb other pan flavors as they do. My first recipe, Stinging Nettles with Pancetta and Pasta, comes from Dominic at Moon in the Pond Farm.

Nettles it turns out are packed with nutrients, including A, C, D, iron, potassium, manganese, and calcium.  For a leafy green vegetable the plant contains absurdly high levels of protein – 40%. And the medical uses are off the charts.

Medical Value of Nettles

Extracts can be used to treat arthritis, anemia, hay fever, kidney problems, and muscle pain. For men of a certain age, nettles are useful for an enlarged prostate. Nettle is commonly used as part of arthritis treatment in Germany.

Finding Nettles

Nettles appear twice a season starting in early spring and then again in the fall. I bought a pound for $3.00 at the Millerton NY farmer’s market, a huge amount and a bargain. But foraging is more fun, especially if it’s in a neighbors’ garden.  Look for them near water and rich soil.

According to University of Maryland medical website, nettles can alter the menstrual cycle and may contribute to miscarriage. Pregnant women should not use nettles. I do wonder how much you need to eat to have that kind of impact.