What We’re Foraging This Week (5/14)

Minnesota started the foraging season late this year since we had snowstorms throughout April, but we’re now happily doing some major foraging.  Here’s what we’re finding lately.

Ramps

Prepping ramps for dinner. . . . . #ramps #rampseason #foraging #wildfoodlove

A post shared by Alicia Bayer (@magicandmayhem) on May 11, 2018 at 4:08pm PDT

Daryl  has brought home three hauls of ramps from our favorite ramp spots, with loads still there.  Ramps are very slow growing and it’s easy to deplete them, so we generally just harvest one leaf from each bunch and leave the majority there.  Luckily, our spots have plenty to still bring home a ton!

Never buying chip dip again. Ramp dip is my new favorite and so easy– sour cream and ramp homemade ramp seasoning salt (blend dried ramps and coarse sea salt, add pepper and garlic powder, shake). #ramprecipes #ramps #wildfood #forageandfeast #rampseason #wildfoodlove

A post shared by Alicia Bayer (@magicandmayhem) on May 13, 2018 at 7:21am PDT

Not sure how to tell ramps from lily of the valley or other plants?  Here are the easy ways to positively ID them.  Not sure how to cook them?  Here are our favorite ways to cook with ramps.

Nettles

Daryl has brought home several bags of stinging nettles, and I’ve asked him to get me loads more.  Nettles are great for infusions and you can also use them for teas and for cooking (use them in recipes the same way you’d use spinach). 

If you want to know more about how to use nettles (and why), here’s a great video where famous herbalists talk about nettles.

Pheasant Back Mushrooms

We’ve had no luck with morels yet, but Daryl and the kids found some pheasant backs (also known as dryad’s saddle mushrooms).  While these aren’t as tasty as morels in my opinion, they are far easier to find most of the time, and once you know how to cook with them, they can make for some tasty dinners.

Violets

The violets have just begun, but I was happy to get a first small batch of them the other day.  My favorite ways to use violet flowers are for violet sugar and violet syrup.  The leaves are packed with vitamin C and make great additions to salads.

Turkey Tail Mushrooms

Turkey tail mushrooms . . . #turkeytailmushroom #medicinalmushrooms #wildmedicine #foraged #minnesotaforaging #springforaging #mayforaging #wildmushrooms

A post shared by Alicia Bayer (@magicandmayhem) on May 11, 2018 at 12:30pm PDT

These are medicinal and not for cooking. I’ll post more on these soon!

We’re heading to an outdoor event today about harvesting invasive garlic mustard, if we don’t get rained out!

We’ve also been spying and snacking on…

Dandelions and dandelion greens, wild onions, catmint, henbit…

I’m sure Daryl can chime in with more.  He’s been doing the lion’s share of the foraging lately, while I’ve been doing the cooking with his hauls.  🙂

Asparagus should be popping soon, too.  We can’t wait!

What are you harvesting in your neck of the woods these days?

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