Wild spring greens Inspiration; Ramson (Ramsløk) and Ground Elder (Skvallerkål)
Spring comes with so many nourishing tastes that are also good for you. Dive into all that is new and green. Sprouts and herbs are packed with nutrients, astringents, and natural vitamins. Why not use them in every meal, from scrambled eggs for breakfast to salad brunches and pasta dinners.
Ramsløk /Ramslök/Ramsons:
This plant has such a beautiful taste, and it grows wild in Denmark and Trøndelag/Vestcoast and east in Norway in open areas from mid-April until May. You can also find some in southern Sweden. Be sure you don't pick lilly-of-the-valley because they can grow in the same place. Once you have seen the different textures and the difference in how they look, you will be able to identify them correctly. I always check every leaf before I make food, just to be on the safe side. The best test is smelling every leaf. A Ramson's leaf smells like onion.
The Ramsløk is now listed as threatened in some parts of Norway. Some people don't understand that nature's abundant and regenerating processes depend on gentle harvesting, sharing, and not picking everything in sight. So be kind and sensitive when you enter an area with a lot of Ramsløk. If you harvest herbs and flowers on public land, be sure you just pick a small part. Never pick in restricted areas; when you find some, always leave the field looking as if you weren't there. The Ramsløk taste is so strong that you don't need to use that much.
Ramsløk has been used as a cure for everything from stomach aches to asthma and has many of the same health benefits as garlic. Use it without much heating to keep all the nutrients intact.
Eat your weed
This is how you can make delicious food with Ground Elder/ Skvallerkål/Vuohenputki
Ground elder is a plant that people consider a weed, and they do not want it in their gardens. They have probably yet to try stirring it in butter and using it like we use spinach. The young leaves contain C vitamins, smell a bit like celery, and can be used fresh in salads, pestos, and other green dishes. Harvest in May and June for the best taste.
Ground elder grows in Broadleaf forests, rivers, and parks and gardens, so you have probably seen it without noticing this was something you can eat. The young Ground elder is perfect as a side dish to almost everything because the leaves are so round in taste. I like it best gently stirred and salted, and I always add herbs like lovage, spring onions, chives, and oregano for more taste. Together with nettles, you will have such a nourishing green meal. Ground elder came to the Nordics as a medicinal plant. It is calming and has been said to have a soothing effect on arthritis. It is also an excellent plant to use against inflammation. This is a plant you can harvest with a good conscience. It spreads easily and can grow in all kinds of places. But of course, always be gentle and share with others. Here are some recipes of how to use both Ground Elder and Ramson: Pesto with Ground Elder, Ramson and Basil with Carrot and Pasta with Pesto and grilled Artichokes
What has been written about herbs and their medicinal effect on certain ailments and diseases is intended for information only. Nordic Roots does not take responsibility for any diverse effects that may occur if you choose to use these herbs, or any food in which these herbs are included. Ask a healthcare professional if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, and never use herbs with other preparations if in doubt.