Spring is here… Can’t wait to bring in spring and enjoy the first spring jitters?
In our garden, spring means that the first wild garlic leaves are starting to squeak. They smell like garlic and are delicious to use in a pesto, omelette or puree.
Did you know that wild garlic also grows in the wild? In shady spots in the forest. Pay attention, because the leaves look very much like bluebells, and these are super poisonous. If the leaves smell like garlic, you’re good! You immediately recognize the garlic-like aroma.
And no, it is not the badgers that like to eat wild garlic… The Latin name Allium usinum refers to bears… In other languages this is clearer: Bärlauch, Ail des ours or Bear’s garlic. According to Wikipedia, the species name is ursinum (= of the bears, ursus = bear) originated from the old superstition that bears first feasted on this plant after their hibernation. This is also the reason that the plant is occasionally called bear’s garlic (in German Bärlauch and in French ail des ours ). The name wild garlic may be derived from badgers, which had their burrows under these plants
Nice to make a green healthy pesto! Below you will find 2 recipes (a super healthy vegan version and a super fast classic version)
