cooking with CANNABIS
by Chef Sebastian Carosi
Being trapped inside during the winter ( or in the recent worldwide pandemic ), we all yearn for the sunshine and the edible spring commodities that pop up everywhere from our backyards to the forested trails we regularly hike . For me it must be the young tender , nutrient dense shoots of most spring things , especially the greens . As a longtime purveyor of fine greens and a farm to fork driven chef , I ’ ve been patiently waiting through the cold months to nab the nettle tips and asparagus shoots the spring has to offer . Wild stinging nettles are extremely common and found in almost every wet corner of the United States . They have been consumed for thousands of years without anyone getting stung or a bur in their throats …. ( just saying ). Most people are just apprehensive to eat the wild nettles because of the wicked stings they received as children , playing in the thicket . I forgo those silly thoughts to know that wild nettles are more nutrient dense than almost anything in your grocery store ’ s selection of fresh greens . Combining the asparagus , fresh hemp leaves , and wild nettles in the velvety smooth representation of spring allows you to get a bowl full of nutrients your body needs after suffering some time without the sun .
“ Confession time : I truly feel bad all these years later knowing that I used to sell this soup sans the hemp and fancy crab garnish for $ 8 a bowl .”
If you are feeling super fancy pants , save the tips of the asparagus and use them as a garnish in your soup as well , or truly splurge and serve it with some butter poached crab meat . Either way , I hope you will enjoy the simplicity , the nutrients , and the potential to get outside in the sunshine of the season . Forage for some wild stinging nettles , visit your local farmers market or check your secret wild asparagus spot along the creek .
SC
Chef Sebastian Carosi trained at Portland ’ s Western Culinary Institute , apprenticed with renowned chefs in Italy , and went on to lead the Farm 2 Fork movement in New England and the mid-Atlantic states . Find him on Instagram at @ chef _ sebastian _ carosi .
38 Maximum Yield