Good Herb: Ground Elder
Once you have it in your garden, you can say goodbye to your perfect flower bed: Few plants are as stubborn as the ground elder, which drives gardeners to the brink of madness. But gardeners don’t need to throw in the towel in frustration. Once you know its benefits, the ground elder quickly transforms from an enemy into a friend. One way to deal with ground elder is to eat it.
Medicinal Herb
Fans of raw food and wild herbs love ground elder as an aromatic highlight in salads, soups, and as spinach, since it tastes similar to parsley. The herb is ideal in the spring in smoothies or as a seasoning for vegetables. The young shoots taste best, and the older the plant, the more bitter the leaves. Ground elder is also a strong remedy for many common ailments, especially rheumatism and gout. Known as “Goat’s Foot,” it is rich in potassium and supports the drainage and elimination of uric acid in the body, which is why it is often used to prevent bladder infections. For a bladder tea, pour ¼ liter of hot water over two tablespoons of crushed ground elder leaves. Let it steep for five minutes. In addition to potassium and copper, ground elder also contains vitamins A and C, as well as iron. For this reason, it is also recommended alongside nettles for spring fatigue.
Emergency Helper
Ground elder is also useful for mosquito bites or sunburn: simply crush the leaves lightly with a stone and apply them to the painful areas.
Identifying Ground Elder
Ground elder can be recognized by the three sets of three leaves on each stem. It has toxic look-alikes like hogweed, cow parsnip, dog parsley, and the toxic spotted hemlock. When you rub its leaves, they smell like parsley.
Recipes
Ground Elder Smoothie
Ground elder can have a laxative effect, so start with a small dose, which can then be increased.
1 handful of ripe raspberries, blueberries, or strawberries (combined)
1 banana
1 small handful of young ground elder leaves.
Wash everything, blend with a mixer, and add the desired amount of water.
Ground Elder-Nettle-Dandelion Pesto
Ingredients:
2 large handfuls of ground elder leaves
1 large handful of young nettle leaves
1 large handful of dandelion leaves
120 grams of pine nuts or almonds
200 grams of grated Parmesan
2 chopped garlic cloves
250-300 ml of extra virgin olive oil
Salt and pepper to taste
Preparation:
Toast the pine nuts or peeled almonds without oil, let them cool, and crush them. Chop the herbs and garlic, add the spices and Parmesan, and mix everything together with a blender or mortar. Transfer to jars and top up with oil.
