NETTLES

NETTLES ARE MOST TENDER and delicious in the late spring and early summer. They grow wild everywhere and are one tough plant. Their natural defense system, comprised of microfibers, is a serious skin irritant; unwashed, they must be handled with gloves. But here’s the upside: Nettles are the most intense source of chlorophyll and mineral content in the family of leafy greens. So we prize nettles for their deep, dark color and healthy, rich flavor. I like them best for their direct connection to eating wild food.