Mmmmm! Think I have a new obsession! Years ago I would have experimented with making kale crisps but I must say they never tasted as good as Beech leaf or Nettle crisps. You can try making this simple snack from most edible wild leaves
and the variations in you ingredients to bake them in are absolutley endless! You'll never be bored wild harvesting, making and munching on these treats.
This Spring we've been happily spending more time in the woodland with the kids enjoying nibbling on the first tender tree leaves. The Beech leaves are a stunning lime green with fine fluffy hairs at the moment. They are so soft and taste surprisingly citrusy. Just eating them fresh on our adventures is a treat in itself but we thought let's create a tasty snack from them... why not crisps!
Nettle crisps are well loved by many people and it being Nettle season making crisps is a nice addition to the usual drying, vinegar and tincture making and cordials we always do. These are the two simple mixes we used to coat the Beech and Nettle leaves. Other ingredients you could mix in or add include: chilli oil; garlic oil, apple juice, soy sauce, any nut butters, cumin, paprika, garam masala, fenugreek, seaweed flakes ...the possibilities are ENDLESS!
Beech Leaf Mix:
3 tbsp olive oil
2 tbsp nutirtional yeast
Salt & black pepper
Nettle Leaf Mix:
2 tbsp tahini
1 tbsp olive oil
Juice 1 lime
Zest 1 lime
Chilli flakes
Salt & black pepper
These mixes are for 2-3 good handfuls of leaves. Put all mix ingredients into a large bowl. Mix well. Add in leaves and ensure all are covered with some mix. Lay leaves on oven trays - try not to overlap too much. Bake in a preheated oven at 130 C. The Beech leaves took 25mins. The Nettle leaves took 45mins. You want to have them dry and crispy. Devour! They didn't last long between myself Ross and the kids! Store in an airtight container if any remain ;)
We're looking forward to crisping our way through the growing season trying more wild leaves and new mixes. Next to try is Dandelion, Sorrel, Plantain, Lemon Balm and Lady's Mantle!!! :)
