 |
| Fig.1. L. Moore Goosegrass Pesto |
Who would have thought that green stuff that sticks to your clothes like Velcro could be amazing for the body and above all free and edible. Well it's about right now in our towns and cities, gardens, waste-ground etc... it's young and at it's best so get plucking. This plant is also known as 'sticky-willy', 'cleavers' and 'scratch tongue' (I know it doesn't sound great but believe me it's not bad at all). The young shoots can be used in salads and all of the plant can be used in soups, ointments for the skin and juicing. Eat the stems while young before the plant sets seed and become tough. There is no time like the present so give it a go. Let's go and get some 'sticky-willy' and be creative. If your bored and need a reason to get out and about then 'go-seek and find' ... YaY.
Honestly there is nothing better than finding a free edible and rushing home and experimenting with it. I came home with a small bag of the stuff and made this lovely pesto ...Ta Dah. Then my entire meal was designed around my new creation. As it was pancake Tuesday this week my partner and I went overboard with making pancake mix and we have had pancakes all week. Needless to say I had my pesto spread onto a pancake with oven baked chicken breast and lashings of cheddar cheese ...oh yes it was yummy. Terrible for the midriff but hey ho it's only once a year (the pancakes that is). I can think of many ways of using this pesto with the obvious pasta, on toast with a variety of toppings, adding it to risottos and perhaps toppings for soup with a bit of cream. mmmm... My only criticism of my recipe was I put too much salt in it so I had to use it sparingly. But we all live and learn and I'll know better next time.
Goosegrass/sticky-willy Pesto
4 cups of goosegrass (or half carrier bag)
4 cloves of garlic
1 tbs pine nuts
3 tbs grated Parmesan cheese
1 tsp lime juice
salt to taste
add olive oil as you mix ingredients
Wash your goosegrass in the sink with a little salt to get rid of any bugs and/or dog bacteria. Pat the goosegrass dry and place in a bowl or blender. Add the remaining ingredients and blend all together. Add the olive oil bit by bit until it is the right consistency and enjoy. You need quite a lot of goosegrass. The image I have put on this blog is half a jar made from 3 cupful's of goosegrass. As with all my recipes experiment and explore with your new wild edibles and have fun. Also if you are unsure about what you have picked remember 'if in doubt then leave it out'. Be certain of what you have.
 |
| Fig.2. L.Moore Goosegrass/sticky-willy pesto |
 |
| Fig.3. L. Moore goosegrass growing down a path |
 |
| Fig.4. L. Moore A close up of goosegrass |
According to the book Hedgerow Medicine, Harvest and Make Your Own Herbal Remedies, by Julie Bruton & Mathew Seal (2008) cleavers (goosegrass) 'promotes the lymphatic flow and helps rid the lymphatic system of metabolic waste. In effect, it is like a pipe cleaner for our lymph vessels' (2008, p.31). Cleavers are understood as a useful remedy for swollen glands, tonsillitis, and adenoid problems and earache. Because of it's effect on the lymph system cleavers enjoy a reputation for helping to shrink tumors, both benign and cancerous, and for removing nodular growths on the skin. Other benefits include promoting the flow of urine and soothes irritation of the urinary tract. It relives the scalding pain on urination associated with cystitis and used as a remedy for kidney inflammation and irritable bladder. It is also effective in clearing grit, gravel or calcium deposits in the urinary tract.
Description
'Very common native annual. Stems are made sticky by downwardly curved prickles. Leaves, in whorls of 6-8, are up to 50 mm long, pale green and thin, with sticky, prickly edges. Young shoots grow upright; the layers of whorls quite geometric and ordered but they sprawl out as they grow, eventually forming a thick, tangled mess. Tiny greenish white flowers grow in loose clusters from the axil of the upper leaves; the fruits are the familiar sticky burs.'. This text is taken from the forager handbook by Miles Irving, (2009) p 51-52 A similar species is the 'Sweet Woodruff' which has smooth stems and leaves and white flowers (also edible).
References/useful resources
Bruton-Seal, J & M. (2008) Hedgerow Medicine, Harvest and Make Your Own Herbal Remedies, Merlin Unwin Books, pp 30-33
Irving, M. (2009) The Forager Handbook: A Guide To The Edible Plants Of Britain, Ebury Publishing, pp 50-51
http://www.herbalextractsplus.com/goose-grass.html
http://www.woodlands.co.uk/blog/woodland-flowers/white-flowers/bedstraws-and-cleavers/
No comments:
Post a Comment