Wild garlic

lindadykes

Used some wild garlic for the first time today.

There was some chard in my veggie box, and I decided I would stir fry it with garlic as an accompaniment to dinner. I then remembered that every year I say I am going to try and use some wild garlic as there is loads near where I live. So I thought right then stir fried chard and wild garlic it will be.

I washed and finely sliced the chard and garlic leaves, then finely sliced half an onion, heated a wok and gave a couple of sprays of oil and added the onion. Stir fried the onion till soft and just starting to brown, then added 1 teaspoon of butter to the wok and the finely sliced greens. I stir fried the whole lot for another 3-4 minutes then added a little lemon zest and salt.

It was absolutely delicious, I will definately use it to stir fry with greens again.

jennybb

We've been eating it all weekend;)

Had it chopped into scrambled eggs, with new potoatoes and butter and made garlic bread with it. I've also put some in oil and plan to make some ravioli tonight filled with soft cheese and wild garlic. It's great stuff :T

seashore321

I actually use the flowers in salads but they are very strong so you only need a few. Either whole or tear the petals up. The two fat ladies use them quite a lot as well in salads and sauces.

sexki11en

So, i'm sat reading the foraging thread and say to my DF 'i'd like to do that' He informs me that near us there is a woods he used to cycle through and a part of it is called 'garlic valley' due to the amount of wild garlic that grows there (about 50m!!!)

So i'd like to go collect some but:
a) How do I harvest it (is it the plant bit or is it like normal garlic where it's the bulb?)
b) If I collect a lot, can I store it and how?
c) What can I do with it :rotfl:

Excited SK :j

laura2481

try here for info http://uktv.co.uk/food/ingredient/aid/585886
The bulb is under the ground, like an onion

laura2481

Hmmm, I'm thinking of planting some wild garlic now as the flowers are quite pretty and then you can eat it!

Also considering planting an onion just to see what it looks like when it flowers but that's just me!

sexki11en

laura2481 wrote: »

Hmmm, I'm thinking of planting some wild garlic now as the flowers are quite pretty and then you can eat it!

Also considering planting an onion just to see what it looks like when it flowers but that's just me!

:rotfl:

Let me know how that goes.

Thanks for the info

SK x

VfM4meplse

I have looked at wild garlic with interest but have never had the guts to use it. Does anyone have a bulb (conventional) to volume (wild) conversion ratio?

HariboJunkie

Apart from the fact that the bulb is tiny and not really worth harvesting, I just wouldn't as you are then removing the whole plant from the wild.

It's generally the leaves that are used anyway and not the bulbs.

I use it alot in salads and omlettes/frittatas, add it to mashed potatoes or use it as a base for a green sauce with fish.

The bulbs divide very easily so if you know someone who has it growing in their garden ask them nicely for a clump but beware, it's quite invasive.

VfM4meplse wrote: »

I have looked at wild garlic with interest but have never had the guts to use it. Does anyone have a bulb (conventional) to volume (wild) conversion ratio?

Can't give you a ratio but I'd say it's about the size of a snowdrop bulb.

mardatha

Where I grew up the woods were full of it and we called it Stinky Weed. There's no way I'd ever want to plant that stuff in the garden, you can smell it for MILES and it clings !!