The best in seasonal food
Springtime is the perfect season to discover the delicious and versatile wild garlic (Allium ursinum). With its distinctive garlicky aroma, this plant can be used to create mouth-watering dishes such as soups and pestos.
Growing in shady and damp conditions, the wild garlic season starts in late winter and continues until the end of spring. The plant’s green, pointed leaves and white flowers are easy to identify, making it an ideal plant for novice foragers.
When foraging for seasonal food, such as wild garlic, it is important to pick only a small amount to avoid harming the natural environment. The leaves can be eaten raw or cooked. It can be used to create a variety of delicious dishes, such as adding to pasta, salads, or soups.
Where to find wild garlic
To discover this delightful plant, take a stroll through your local woodland, forest, or riverbank. Keep your eyes and nose open for its unmistakable scent. So, embrace the spring season and add some wild garlic to your meals for a burst of fresh, garlicky flavor!
When is wild garlic season and where can you find it?
Wild garlic, also known as bear leek, is a native plant to Britain and can be found in dense clumps on woodland floors from March to June. It is easily identified by its vibrant green leaves with a smooth edge and pungent garlic smell. The plant can grow up to 50 cm in height and has delicate white flowers that bloom from April to June, which are also edible and make a pretty addition to dishes.
If you’re new to foraging for seasonal food, wild garlic is a great place to start as it is abundant and easy to identify. You can find it in many National Trust owned woodlands, as well as in places like Arnos Vale in Bristol, The Woods at Roseberry Topping in North Yorkshire, Gribbin Head in Cornwall, and Rampsholme Island in Cumbria. When foraging, it’s important to seek permission before picking and only take a small amount for personal use, leaving plenty for wildlife and avoiding damage to habitats.
How can you use wild garlic?
What can you do with wild garlic? The leaves and flowers are edible and can be used in soups, sauces, pesto, salads, and sandwiches. A popular dish is wild garlic pesto, which is made by blending the leaves with walnuts, olive oil, and parmesan. You can also make a spring soup by frying an onion in butter, adding a cubed potato and bay leaf, and then simmering in vegetable stock until the potato is soft. Add a bunch of
Wild garlic leaves and cook briefly, remove the bay leaf, blend the soup, season, and enjoy the spring green goodness.
When seasonal food foraging, it’s important to be able to positively identify the plant and never eat any plant you’re unsure of. Wild garlic can be mistaken for a poisonous plant called lily of the valley, but the difference is in the smell. Wild garlic has a pungent garlic smell, so if in doubt, best not to pick or eat. Remember to also leave enough for wildlife and avoid damaging habitats.
