Topic: Wild Garlic for Saag

[DalPuri]

Now is the time for wild garlic, so instead of just making soup (which is Fantastic!) how about trying some curried dishes?
 
Saag Aloo with half n half spinach and wild garlic leaves . . . 

Usually by a stream or a lake(Bewl) is a good place to find it growing or amongst not too dense woodlands. If you dont recognise it from the smell, then either the bluebell/daffodil  type leaf or small clusters of white flowers will give it away.
Well worth hunting if you've never tried it before. All of the plant can be eaten, leaves, flowers, stems or bulbs.



Cheers, Frank. 


p.s. Tip: cross cut the leaves finely or they'll bind and wrap around your blender blade (like coriander stalks) when making soup

[StoneCut]

Nice tip!

However, if "wild garlic" is what I think it is in German ("B

[DalPuri]

Yes, thats the one SC, Ramsons.
First time i had wild garlic soup was in Germany, and i've been making it every year ever since.  ;D
Delicious!

[fried]

When I was younger I used to cook with wild garlic sometimes, but I remember it having a violet flower. I my mind playing tricks on me or did I pick a different variety?

[DalPuri]

Pink Agapanthus?

http://www.finegardening.com/plantguide/tulbaghia-violacea-pink_agapanthus.aspx

or maybe you were picking chives?
 I think there is a very small wild plant that grows among grass with a garlic flavoured tuber? 

[fried]

That looks more like it, I seem to recall it being fairly common on roadside borders. Any idea how it compares in taste to the ones you showed? I've been looking at some photos on some sites and they look like they cover large areas.

I'll add this quote from a South African website.

Description:

This essence protects the auric field. The efficacy of this protection ranges from insects to psychic attackers or psychic vampires, who drain energy from others. Negative thoughtforms are repelled and the immune system is strengthened. Fear, low immunity to disease, lack of vital energy and lack of willpower are all indications that this essence may be needed. It facilitates feelings of safety, wholeness and courage.

Sounds like it might go down well in a BIR!

I just saw your modification and it wasn't a chive as I get in my garden but definitly something related from the onion family. I was fairly young at the time.

[DalPuri]

Hmmm, not sure if it has naturalised in the UK, so maybe it was more likely crows garlic that you remember?

The only other thing i know from the roadside is Jack by the hedge. Plenty of that about now and makes a nice addition to salads.  (but again, white flowers)

Mostly, its onions that have will pink/purple flowers.

[DalPuri]

I have Egyptian onions in my garden.(often confused with welsh onions) Very handy if you run out of onions, because theyre around for most of the year needing no maintenance at all. 
Once they're established, you've got them for life.

A little bigger than a clove of garlic and not quite as big as Indian shallots with a very strong onion flavour.

[DalPuri]

Half a carrier bags worth of wild garlic leaves and flower buds prepped for the freezer. 
Chopped and blanched for a couple of mins in boiling *salted (*debatable) water, then straight into a colander,under the cold tap and formed into 9 green nuggets.
One full (stuffed) bag would probably make the equivalent of a 1kg bag of frozen spinach briquettes.