Wild Garlic
Pleasures of foraging and recipes to enjoy
First time I came across wild garlic about 6 years ago and it was love at first taste! I remember getting it in one my organic veg boxes, completely unaware of its existence before.
I definitely embraced it from day one and put it to a good use in my kitchen since, blogging a lot of what I cooked too (scroll below to check out the recipes) but back then I haven’t discovered the joy of foraging for it yet.
And what a joy it is! That first time when you discover “your” wild garlic patch, so vast, so beautiful and soo….garlicky. Absolute heaven if you ask me.
Wild garlic from that veg box was gorgeous but their delivery season was short. Depending on when “your” wild garlic foraging patch is, you might be able to enjoy it well into June although younger leaves are the tastiest. Before the flowers (as gorgeous as they are) are in full bloom, oh what a pleasure.
We’ve been loving our family trips to the woods this Easter holidays. My boys have enjoyed being part of the process, making sure they are treading gently in the woods, picking only what we know we need and leaving the place as we found it.
They’ve learnt how to pick wild garlic sustainably, without pulling the entire plant (there is no need for that). We want for it to come back again so that we can enjoy it year after year.
We’ve been enjoying wild garlic for over a month now. I tend to add it to most things for that subtle garlicky flavour but my most utilised condiment has been wild garlic butter, a complete game changer when it comes to adding flavour in the simplest of ways as you cook.
The simplest of dishes like scrambled eggs, mushrooms on toast, peas, broccoli or any veggies for that matter, simply transform from nice to extraordinary. Still simple but somehow elevated.
If you’re completely new to wild garlic then you should probably start with this super simple and hardly a recipe for wild garlic butter just to see whether you and wild garlic will get on.
I have a number of delicious recipes on my blog by now utilising this wonderful and abundant spring allium but looking back I should have really started with this simple butter as it is anything and everything you’d like butter to be and it screams flavour, it screams "spring is here” at the top of its (silent) voice.
I hope you enjoy it!
I’ve also included other wild garlic recipes from blog archives for your perusal. Some of them including chicken and fish (from before our move to more plant centred way of eating), but there is lots to choose from for everyone.
Until next time!
Wild Garlic Butter
Vegan Cheese Scones with Wild Garlic
Wild Garlic Soup
Wild Garlic & Walnut Pesto
Wild Garlic Pesto Baked Salmon with Gnocchi
Wild Garlic Hummus
Roast Chicken Traybake with Shallots and Wild Garlic Pesto
Wild Garlic Chicken Stew with Cheesy Dumplings
