In contrast, Spring is literally bursting with green and there is so much you can find in nature to feed yourself from. I like to think that nature is giving us all the nutrients we need after a long Winter to build up our energy for a busy Summer. This is my guide to the best things you can find around Newcastle to forage this Spring!
One of my favourite things to forage is wild garlic, or ramsons. If you have ever wondered why you are smelling garlic when you go for a walk in the Dene, this is what it is. They grow like a carpet in the areas of dappled sunlight under the trees, so you should have no trouble finding them. They are easily identified from the garlic smell released by rubbing the leaves.
They grow like a carpet in the areas of dappled sunlight under the trees, so you should have no trouble finding them.
You can use them for so much! I have used them (along with nettles) as a spinach substitute in saag paneer. They are also absolutely delicious chopped up and mixed in with butter, which you can spread on bread to make your own garlic bread. A common use for ramsons is wild garlic pesto, which is absolutely delicious, but make sure to blanch your wild garlic first so you won’t be smelling it on your breath for the rest of Spring!
Top tip: If you make wild garlic pesto, freeze it in ice cube trays so you only have to defrost as much as you need whenever you want some delicious Spring tasting pasta!
There are tonnes and tonnes of other greens that come out in the Spring to stock up on nutrients. Some of my go-tos are dandelion leaves, nettles and jack-by-the-hedge. All of these make a great free substitute for spinach or chard in your recipes. These are all best if you pick younger leaves, as they tend to get more bitter as they get older. If you are preparing nettles, make sure to wear gloves and blanch them before using them so you don’t get any nasty stings.
There are tonnes and tonnes of other greens that come out in the Spring to stock up on nutrients.
May is when elderflowers come out, which have potential for so many delicious recipes! I am yet to try elderflower fritters, but they look absolutely delicious. You can also make cordial, cakes, liqueur and sorbet. The elderflower opportunities are endless!
There are lots of great opportunities for a foraged cup of tea in the Spring! Nettle tea in my opinion does not taste the best, but is packed full of nutrients. Dandelion flowers make gorgeous floral blooms in your cup, and are extra delicious if you flavour with other herbs.
Hopefully this gives you more than enough to get going, and you can forage something delicious this Spring! Just remember to respect the plants and the land you take from. If you want to learn more about respecting the land you forage from, I would definitely recommend the book Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer. Otherwise, happy foraging!
