This is the recipe of the popular nettle soup that we prepare at the Oak Tree Farm yearly wild food walk.

Ingredients (Serves 4):

• 1 onion, chopped
• vegetable oil, for frying
• 500ml water
• 1 bay leaf
• Salt and black pepper
• 2 medium potatoes, peeled and chopped
• 2 large handfuls of stinging nettle tips and young leaves
• Sour cream, to serve

Method:

1. Fry the chopped onion for 5-10 minutes in the oil or fat in a saucepan.
2. Add the water, bay leaf, seasoning and potatoes, then cook for another few minutes.
3. Wash your nettles carefully in fresh water and add them to the pan, stirring, then simmer for 5 minutes, and season.
4. Remove the bay leaf then liquidise the soup with a small handheld blender. Add water if it looks too thick.
5. Return to the heat for a couple of minutes, adding further salt and pepper to taste.
6. Add the sour cream once it has been taken off the heat, mix well and serve.

Bon appétit!