This week in aid of Mental Health Awareness week we will be publishing a series of seasonal recipes with foraged ingredients by local nutritional therapist Belinda Blake.

Read more about Belinda and the benefits of foraging for mental health here: Forage your way to improved wellbeing this Mental Health Awareness Week.

Get Back to Nature with Foraging: Nettle Soup, by Belinda Blake

Serves 6

Stinging nettles thrive in fertile soils and as a result are packed full of nutrients, providing vitamin C, A and B vitamins, plus a range of minerals including potassium, calcium, chromium, copper, magnesium and iron.

Nature's own multivitamin and mineral, and a perfect spring tonic! This is one of our favourite nettle soup recipes and is based on one originally published by Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall.

Ingredients

About ½ carrier bag full of nettle tops (approx. 150-200g)

2 tbs olive oil

1 onion, peeled chopped

1 large leek, washed and finely sliced

2 celery sticks, chopped

1 large clove garlic, peeled and chopped (or a small handful of washed, chopped ramson leaves)

2 tbsp white basmati rice

1 litre good quality vegetable or chicken stock

Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper

To serve

6 tbsp plain live yoghurt or kefir

1 small bunch chives, finely chopped

Method

Wash the nettles well, pat dry and remove any tough stems (wearing gloves!).

Gently heat the oil in a large pan and add the onion, leek, celery and garlic. Cover the pan and allow the vegetables to soften for about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally (you don't want these to brown).

Add the rice and stock, then bring to a simmer and cook for 10 minutes.

Next, add the nettles (and ramson leaves if you are using them) into the stock whilst stirring, then allow to simmer for about five minutes or until the rice and the nettles are tender.

Season with sea salt and black pepper.

Purée the soup and check the seasoning, before ladling into bowls and decorating with a swirl of yoghurt and a sprinkling of chives.

Other recipes from Belinda:

- Wild Pesto

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Read more about Belinda and the benefits of foraging for mental health here: Forage your way to improved wellbeing this Mental Health Awareness Week.