It's Spring time in Wicklow and the Wild Garlic is popping up all over the woodlands near the cottage. This is only my second year foraging and making my own wild garlic pesto but it has quickly become one of my favourite ways to celebrate the beginning of Spring. This year was even more special as I went foraging with my daughter and dog.
What you need to make wild garlic pesto
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pine nuts
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wild garlic leaves
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lemon juice
- parmesan
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Salt and pepper
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extra virgin olive oil
Things to remember
It's important to check you are actually foraging wild garlic. Pick a leaf and crush it. If it smells strongly of garlic you have wild garlic. I like to use the app Picture This to identify any plants I am unsure about.
It's always hard to know how much you have actually foraged so the measurements here can be increased or decreased depending on how much you forage. One thing to remember is not to pick the roots, to take a leaf from one stalk and move on to another plant. It's important not to harm the plant so it grows again next year.
I normally use my dog's poo bags as a gauge so one bag is plenty for me!
