Nettle soup is best made in May when the leaves are small, tender, and fragrant. How do they smell? Of course, in spring.
Imagine how wonderful this soup will turn out! Remember that nettles should not be collected in urban areas or near roads: it’s better to take the time and go to the forest for them. Even better if you pick young stems of this wild green right from your garden just before making the soup and immediately put them into the pot with broth. In general, the fresher the nettles, the tastier the soup. Try it and see for yourself!
INGREDIENTS FOR 4 SERVINGS
eggs – 4 pcs.
medium-sized onion – 1 pc.
medium-sized potatoes – 3 pcs.
clarified butter – 3 tbsp.
chicken (vegetable) broth or drinking water – 1 l
young nettles – 200 g
small head of iceberg lettuce – 1/2 pc.
freshly ground black pepper – to taste
salt – to taste
RECIPE PREPARATION
Step 1
Prepare soft-boiled eggs for serving the soup. Place them in a pot, cover with cold water, and bring to a boil. Cook for 4 minutes. Then cool them under running water.
Step 2
Peeled the onion and finely chop it. Heat the clarified butter in a heavy-bottomed pot. Add the onion and sauté it over low heat, stirring, for 5 minutes.
Step 3
Peeled the potatoes, rinse, and cut them into medium-sized cubes. Add them to the pot with the onion. Sauté, stirring, over low heat for 5 minutes. Then pour in the broth or water, bring to a boil, season with salt, and cook for about 20 minutes.
Step 4
Thoroughly rinse the nettles under running water. Remove the tough stems and finely chop the remaining nettles. Add them to the pot with the vegetables in the broth, bring to a boil, and cook for 1 minute.
Step 5
Remove the soup from the heat and puree it with an immersion blender until it has a not-too-smooth consistency. Taste and, if necessary, add salt and pepper to taste.
Step 6
Rinse the iceberg lettuce and shred it. Add it to the pot with the soup. Cover with a lid and leave it on the hot turned-off stove. After 5 minutes, ladle the nettle soup into bowls. Add the previously boiled eggs to each bowl.
USEFUL TIP
In this nettle soup recipe, iceberg lettuce can be replaced with young white cabbage. The main thing is to use the tenderest leaves and shred them as finely as possible.
BYS THE WAY
Nettle soup can be served not only with soft-boiled eggs but also with sour cream. Want to combine both additions? Go ahead! It will make the dish even tastier and heartier.
