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Garlic
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Message 1.Â
Posted by Jane (U14826668) on Monday, 19th March 2012
Hi there
I have just discovered that near where I live, in woodland there is wild garlic growing at the moment it just has the green leaves sprouting, but I was told soon it will sprout lavendar colour flowers and they really do smell of garlic - yum... I dont suppose anyone knows if wild garlic is OK to pick and use in cooking - I presume it can be??
Many thanks for any advice
Jane -
Message 2
Posted by MrsBeginner (U15188446) on Monday, 19th March 2012
Yes you can pick the leaves and use them in cooking, I do. And the great thing is, you never pick another leaf by mistake, because you just have to smell them to get your answer!
Another great foraging freebie is young nettle tops. I have 2 great ideas if you want them from me - Nettle Quiche and Nettle Pesto; I use the garlic leaves in that too. Happy foraging! -
Message 3
Posted by Inkadog (U14278499) on Monday, 19th March 2012
Nettle soup and Spinakopita made with nettles are very tasty as well.
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Message 4
Posted by Jane (U14826668) on Monday, 19th March 2012
Yes you can pick the leaves and use them in cooking, I do. And the great thing is, you never pick another leaf by mistake, because you just have to smell them to get your answer!
Another great foraging freebie is young nettle tops. I have 2 great ideas if you want them from me - Nettle Quiche and Nettle Pesto; I use the garlic leaves in that too. Happy foraging! Â Hi there
Oh yes please, that would be great. Do you think as well as picking the garlic leaves, can you dig them up to get the garlic bulb?
Many thanks
Jane -
Message 5
Posted by figrat (U3054696) on Monday, 19th March 2012
It's not the same as the culinary garlic. As said before, leaves and flowers both edible on the wild stuff.
Also, I think there are some restrictions on digging up wild stuff - Alys Fowler's very good on foraging do's and don'ts. -
Message 6
Posted by gaffelbiter (U14481810) on Monday, 19th March 2012
You really don't want to introduce wild garlic into your own garden, it can be really invasive. Why bother anyway, it grows pretty freely across the country. On the issue of foraging, I'm all for it - when done solely for your own table. Stuff whole trout with it and bake or steam. Delicious.
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Message 7
Posted by AlinaW (U2220240) on Wednesday, 21st March 2012
I agree with the point about NOT introducing it into your garden - it is very invasive, and extremely difficult to get rid of.
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Message 8
Posted by MrsBeginner (U15188446) on Thursday, 22nd March 2012
I know you can't dig up any plants in the wild, it's illegal, but you can garner the leaves/fruits. It you have the landowner's permission though, that's a different thing. I'm unsure what the bulb of wild garlic is like.
Nettle Pesto - from James Wong's book, Grow your own Drugs'. Serves 2
50-70g nettle tips (only take the tender tips, in Spring), washed
40 ml olive oil
1 garlic clove (or a handful of wild garlic leaves)
Parmesan Cheese
Small handful of pine nuts
S&P
Steam nettle tips for a few mins only, then whizz in a processor with a little parmesan, the garlic, pine nuts and oil. Taste and season. Serve with pasta and more parmesan. Yum!
Nettle Quiche
8 oz cooked nettles
1 oz chopped spring onions
1 oz butter
3 eggs
half pint milk
1 oz grated cheese
8 inch pastry shell, baked blind
Salt, Pepper, nutmeg
Steam nettles 'til soft. (they'll lose their sting)
Cook onions in butter for a minute. Add nettles and stir to evaporate any liquid. Season. Beat eggs and milk, season and stir in nettle mixture. Pour into pastry case, sprinkle with cheese and a little nutmeg. Bake at 375 F, 190 C or Gas 5 for about half an hour. -
Message 9
Posted by Italophile (U12516505) on Thursday, 22nd March 2012
Nettle Risotto is equally delish.
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Message 10
Posted by gaffelbiter (U14481810) on Thursday, 22nd March 2012
I had supper at a friend's flat last night and was served a very nice nettle and ransom soup. Thickened with potato and topped with a slash of soured cream.
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Message 11
Posted by sunflower (U14287769) on Thursday, 22nd March 2012
we have wild garlic growing and it tastes good. However our blossom is white! The blossom leaves and seeds are yumm in a salad.
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Message 12
Posted by bookertoo (U3655866) on Monday, 26th March 2012
As far as I know and have seen, ransom or wild garlic flowers are white - did you expect a different colour? Please don't put it in your garden, unless in a supported pot where the roots cannot reach the ground, and dead head it to stop it setting seed - and even then i wouldn't. It is one of the most invasive plants there is. Look at pictures from Guernsey, where it is a real pest absolutely everywhere.
This advice is from someone who grows variegated ground elder on purpose, under tightly controlled conditions, but I would not allow wild garlic in the garden. -
Message 13
Posted by gaffelbiter (U14481810) on Monday, 26th March 2012
Well said. It is hard enough dealing with the couch,docks,horsetail or whatever is your local bane, without adding a further rod for your back!
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Message 14
Posted by MrsBeginner (U15188446) on Monday, 26th March 2012
I'm presuming horsetail is the same hellish stuff as Mares tails which we call them. Awful awful awful things!
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