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Nettle is a common type of green that is often used as an addition to a variety of dishes. The plant is valued for its special taste and beneficial composition. Nettle salad is the best way to use this green. There are several cooking methods that can be used to add variety to your daily diet.
How to make nettle salad
For cooking, greens are harvested in early or mid-spring. Only young stinging nettles are used in cooking.
The plant is considered edible before flowering begins.
You can collect greens yourself, purchase them at markets or in specialized stores. It is best to pick a plant with your own hands in a rural area, far from major highways and industrial enterprises.
Young nettles usually do not irritate the skin. If it prickles, the grass must be washed and then scalded with boiling water.It is strictly forbidden to cook or use other heat treatment methods.
The leaves of the plant are used to prepare snacks. The washed greens are shaken and separated from the stems.
Young nettle salad recipes
There are many options for delicious and healthy dishes. To prepare a fresh nettle salad, you need a minimum set of ingredients. Greens go well with a variety of vegetables, so you can use almost any available produce.
Young nettle salad with sour cream and cucumber
A healthy and dietary dish that is great for breakfast. The cooking process takes virtually no time.
Ingredients:
- fresh cucumber – 2 pieces;
- nettle leaves – 80-90 g;
- sour cream – 2 tbsp. l.;
- green onions – 1 bunch;
- salt - to taste.
Sour cream can be replaced with yogurt, and fresh cucumber with pickled cucumber
Preparation:
- Cut the cucumber into cubes or circles and place in a container.
- Tear the leaves into small pieces with your hands.
- Add chopped green onions.
- Season with sour cream and salt.
This salad can complement main courses and any side dishes. To reduce calories, it is recommended to use low-fat sour cream.
Fresh nettle salad with carrots and garlic
This is an original appetizer that will be an excellent alternative to traditional dishes of spring vegetables and herbs. Using this recipe for a very tasty and incomparable salad with nettles will provide a healthy snack for any time of the day.
Required components:
- 2-3 pieces;
- crushed nettle leaves - 5 tbsp. l.;
- garlic – 3-4 cloves;
- kefir – 100 ml;
- green onions - 1 bunch.
Nettle leaves are often used for decoration
Cooking method:
- Peel the carrots, wash them, grate them.
- Add chopped garlic and leaves.
- Season with kefir.
- Sprinkle with chopped onion.
The appetizer is served cold. Kefir can be replaced with any other dressing to taste. Carrots with garlic go perfectly with vegetable oil.
Nettle salad with herbs and hazelnuts
Nuts in the composition make the taste more original and enrich the dish with useful substances. This option is perfect for both everyday and holiday meals.
Ingredients:
- cucumber – 1 piece;
- nettle – 40 g;
- sheep cheese – 30 g;
- chopped hazelnuts – 10 g;
- green onions and dill - 1 small bunch each;
- egg - 1 piece;
- mayonnaise – 1 tbsp. l.
You can use parmesan instead of sheep cheese
Preparation:
- Grind the cucumber.
- Add the main ingredient.
- Cut the cheese into cubes and add to the main ingredients.
- Season with mayonnaise.
- Sprinkle with grated hazelnuts and chopped herbs.
- Transfer to a plate and garnish with a boiled egg.
It is best to use homemade mayonnaise. Hazelnuts can be replaced with walnuts, which will complement this dish just as well.
Nettle salad with egg
Spring dishes with fresh greens don't have to be low in calories. For a hearty snack, you can make a nutritious salad of young nettles with egg.
List of components:
- egg - 3 pieces;
- nettle – 100 g;
- garlic – 1-2 cloves;
- parsley or dill - 1 bunch;
- mayonnaise or sour cream - 2 tbsp. l.
The calorie content of the finished salad with egg is about 160 kcal per 100 g
Cooking method:
- Peel the boiled eggs and cut into cubes.
- Add the chopped main ingredient.
- Squeeze out the garlic.
- Add chopped greens.
- Season with mayonnaise.
The appetizer can be supplemented with fresh cabbage or cucumbers. As a dressing, you can use a mixture of mayonnaise and mild mustard with whole grains.
Cooking instructions:
How to make nettle salad with radishes and spinach
Another tasty and healthy dish for lovers of vegetables and fresh herbs. In the photo, the nettle and spinach salad looks very appetizing and truly spring-like.
List of ingredients:
- spinach – 300 g;
- nettle leaves – 100 g;
- radish – 50 g;
- cucumber – 2 pieces;
- leek – 1 bunch;
- garlic – 1-2 cloves;
- egg yolk – 1 pc.;
- cream – 200 ml;
- salt, spices - to taste.
Salad with radishes and spinach can be served with any meat
Preparation:
- Chop nettle leaves, cucumbers, radishes and spinach.
- Finely chop the onion.
- Mix ingredients, add garlic.
- Beat the yolks and cream, heat in the pan where the vegetables were stewed.
- Season, add salt and spices.
This salad will perfectly complement meat or fish. It can be served as an appetizer or main dish instead of a side dish.
Fresh nettle and sorrel salad recipe
A dietary green snack that is best eaten immediately after preparation. Otherwise, the amount of useful substances in the composition will decrease.
Ingredients:
- nettle leaves – 80 g;
- sorrel – 1 large bunch;
- parsley and dill - 2-3 sprigs each;
- onions - a small bunch;
- garlic – 2-3 cloves;
- boiled egg - 2 pieces;
- olive oil – 2 tbsp. l.
You can add lettuce or spinach to the composition
Cooking method:
- Chop nettles, sorrel, greens, mix in one container.
- Add garlic, chopped boiled eggs.
- Add salt to taste.
- Season with olive oil and stir.
If the sorrel is not sour, you can add 1 teaspoon of lemon juice to the appetizer. It is pre-mixed with olive oil.
Nettle salad with cucumbers and egg
A snack that will not leave any gourmet indifferent. The greens have a sour taste and gently tingle the tongue, thereby enhancing the perception of the other ingredients.
Compound:
- cucumber – 3 pieces;
- nettle – 80 g;
- green onions – 1 small bunch;
- dill and parsley - 3 sprigs each;
- garlic – 1 clove;
- egg - 4 pieces;
- salt, pepper - to taste.
Use 3-4 tablespoons of low-fat yogurt as a dressing.
Cooking steps:
- Grind cucumbers and eggs, mix.
- Add chopped nettle leaves.
- Finely chop the onion, parsley, dill and garlic.
- Add greens to the main ingredients.
- Salt and pepper.
- Stir in dressing.
The dish is recommended to be consumed chilled. Before serving, place it in the refrigerator for 1-2 hours.
The benefits and harms of nettle salad
The plant, used as one of the main ingredients in the recipes described, contains a large amount of valuable substances. The benefits and harms of nettle salad are explained by the content of vitamins, microelements and organic acids.
The plant has the following properties:
- strengthens the immune system;
- has a diuretic effect;
- destroys parasites in the liver and intestines;
- normalizes metabolism;
- removes toxins from the body;
- improves blood clotting;
- has an anti-inflammatory effect;
- reduces blood cholesterol levels;
- prevents the development of oncology.
Greens are recommended to be consumed to prevent infectious diseases. It is useful to eat this plant for people with vision problems, diabetes and skin diseases.
The composition contains substances that accelerate blood clotting. Therefore, the plant should not be used for varicose veins and atherosclerosis. It is not recommended to eat such greens if you have high blood pressure or during pregnancy.
Conclusion
Nettle salad is a healthy dish that has unusual taste. You can make an original snack using a variety of ingredients at your personal discretion. Proper preparation for use is required first. Then the plant will taste pleasant and will not cause burns.
