Nettle soup facts for kids
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Nettle soup served at a restaurant in London
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| Type | Soup |
|---|---|
| Region or state | Northern Europe, Eastern Europe, Middle East |
| Main ingredients | Stinging nettles |
Nettle soup is a traditional soup made from stinging nettles. People usually eat nettle soup in spring and early summer. This is when young nettle plants are fresh and ready to be picked.
Today, nettle soup is popular in places like Scandinavia, Iran, Ireland, and Eastern Europe. Each region often has its own special way of making it. Long ago, people ate nettles much more widely around the world.
Contents
History of Nettle Soup
People in Britain ate nettle stew about 3000 years ago. This was during the Bronze Age. In medieval Europe, people used young stinging nettles as medicine. They believed it helped with joint pain and other health issues. It was also thought to clean the blood.
Many Native American tribes have used stinging nettles for hundreds of years. For example, the Lakota used the roots for stomach pain. The Ojibwa used cooked leaves for skin problems. They also used nettles to fight sickness. The Potawatomi used roots to lower fevers. The Winnebago used nettles for allergy symptoms.
Stinging nettles are very healthy! They have important nutrients like calcium, magnesium, iron, and vitamins A and B. When you boil nettles, the stinging part goes away. This makes them safe and easy to eat in a soup or drink as a tea.
Nettle Soup Around the World
Nettle soup recipes can be different depending on where you are. Let's look at some examples!
Finland
In the Finnish town of Porvoo, there's a traditional soup. It's a mix of nettles and fish. This dish has been enjoyed since the medieval times.
Sweden
In Sweden, nettle soup is called nässelsoppa. First, the nettles are quickly boiled. This makes them soft and removes the sting. Then, the water they were boiled in is saved. This "nettle water" is cleaned to remove any dirt.
Next, cooks make a thick sauce called a roux with butter and flour. They pour the nettle water into this roux. The nettles are chopped very finely or blended smooth. Other ingredients like chives or garlic are often added. The chopped nettles and herbs go into the nettle water. It's then boiled and simmered for a few minutes. Swedish nettle soup is often served with sliced boiled eggs or a dollop of cream.
Native American Nettle Soup
The Northwest Indian College shares a recipe for stinging nettle and squash soup. It uses stinging nettles, acorn squash, broth, garlic, onion, and oil. The squash is roasted until soft. Onions and garlic are cooked in a pot. Then, the squash and nettles are added. Everything cooks together for about 20 minutes. Finally, it's blended until smooth.
Iran
In the Mazandaran province of Iran, there's a special nettle soup. Recipes can vary, but they all include stinging nettles, garlic, onion, chickpeas, turmeric, rice, lentils, and other greens. They also add oil and either pomegranate paste or pomegranate molasses. Sometimes, other beans or vegetables like beets are added. The water used to cook the nettles is often saved. People drink it as a tea for its health benefits.
Ireland
Irish nettle soup usually has nettles, potatoes, cream, leeks, onions, butter, and broth. In traditional Irish culture, people eat nettle soup in late spring (April and May). They believe it helps clean the blood and adds important vitamins to their diet.
Pontic Greeks
The Pontic Greeks come from Turkey. They make a nettle soup with leeks, onions, bulgur, garlic, and hot peppers. In the Pontic language, this soup is called kinteata.
Eastern Europe
Ukraine
Ukrainian nettle soup is also known as green borsht. It often includes onion, carrots, potatoes, dill, and nettle. Cabbage is sometimes added to make it more filling. This soup can be vegetarian or made with meat broth. Ukrainian nettle soup is usually served with a sliced boiled egg and a spoon of smetana (dairy product) (a type of sour cream). It's typically made with fresh nettles in late spring. This soup is a type of Sorrel soup.
See also
In Spanish: La sopa de ortiga para niños
