Garlic mustard and Forager's soup

Lots of greens are up for the picking...including that awfully invasive garlic mustard. It is everywhere I look. Time to pick it before it gets a chance to flower and go to seed. Garlic Mustard poses a severe threat to native plants and animals in forest communities. So harvesting it now has a twofold benefit. Also great in salads mixed with milder greens. Eat it raw, give it a quick steam over caramelized onions, make an awesome pesto.

Also this was in today's NY Times:
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/31/dining/31irishrex1.html?ref=dining

Tags: Garlic, mustard

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Barbara Taylor-Laino on March 31, 2010 at 12:55pm

I've made ricotta-gnocchi with it and stinging nettle - so good!

Permalink Reply by Meghan E. Murphy on April 1, 2010 at 9:39am

Do you have a recipe? We'll definitely be getting some stinging nettle on our foraging walk!

Permalink Reply by Melinda Beuf on March 31, 2010 at 8:15pm

can you post a picture of it?

Permalink Reply by Virginia Luppino on March 31, 2010 at 8:26pm

Here is a great link to photos and info re: garlic mustard

http://www.nps.gov/plants/ALIEN/fact/alpe1.htm

Permalink Reply by Gary Allen on April 22, 2011 at 5:37pm

Had some sauteed garlic mustard yesterday... it was unbelievably bitter (can't imagine what it's like after it flowers!). I suspect that your sweet caramelized onions would help.

On another note... morels are here already. I found my first one two days ago and picked a couple of dozen today.

Permalink Reply by R Flaum on June 17, 2011 at 2:02pm

Hi Gary,

I suggest you harvest the garlic mustard again after it flowers. Although it sounds counterintuitive, many of us think it's at its best then, flowers included. Also, find the tiny, new sprouts around an older plant that's seeded, and try those. They're very good. It's the in between times that have the most bitterness.

Since it's considered invasive, you can pick all you want. But, as always, stay away from roadsides, RR tracks, including rail trails, and any property you're not certain hasn't been sprayed.

Roger

Permalink Reply by Benoit Turpin on June 17, 2011 at 10:08pm