Tag: Nature

Nettle Potato Fritters. Nõgese kartuli kotletid

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Nettles are very important and has been used in Estonian folk medicine centuries.
Folk wisdom teaches that nettle contains vitamins C and K, B vitamins, as well as minerals like calcium, magnesium and iron, to name a few
The nettle takes away fatigue, abdominal pain and water swelling, reduces and stops bleeding, reduces the appearance of diabetes mellitus

And did you know: nettles contain vitamin C 2.5 times more than the lemon (660 mg%).

But of course, you can use any weed to replace nettles. Goutweed taste like carrots and celery. Nettles are a little bit sweet. And wood sorrel is sour.
Nettles keep 1-2 minutes in the boiling water. Goutweed and wood sorrel are edible fresh.

NB! Use only young, fresh, new, small weed, growing in the pure environment.

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4 Best Routs to Visit South Estonia #visitestonia #southestonia #võro #seto

1.     I would suggest not to drive from Tallinn directly to Tartu, but take a detour and admire Shore of Peipsi Lake.
Tallinn – Rakvere (99 km / 1h 12 min)- Kuremäe ( from Rakvere 91 km/ 1h 10 min)- driving along lake Peipsi (Lohusuu, Mustvee, Alatskivi)  94,6 km/ 1 h) to Tartu (from Alatskivi 40 km/ 37 min)

 

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Early Spring Hay Soup. Heinasupp

haysoup (8)This soup from Võru Cuisine. And perfect dish to use first green weed. Smoked ham adds flavours. Author of this recipe is Leelo Laurits. I just little bit adapted this recipe.

Goutweed tastes like carrots and celery. Nettles are a bit sweet. Dandelion tastes like honey but could be a little bit bitter. To decrease the bitterness, leave leaves into the cold salty water to set. And wood sorrel is sour.

Nettles need to be kept in the boiling water 1-2 minutes. Goutweed and wood sorrel are eatable when fresh.
NB! Use only young, fresh, new, small weeds, grown in a pure and clean environment.haysoup (12)

Early Spring Hay Soup. Heinasupp

  • Servings: 2
  • Difficulty: easy
  • Print

A light and delicious Estonian-inspired soup recipe perfect for a early spring dinner.


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Ingredients

  • 200 g prepared barley pearl groats
  • 100 g smoked bones
  • 2 boiled eggs
  • fresh weed
  • Madeira or white vine
  • salt, pepper, sour cream for serving

Directions

  1. If you do not have prepared barley groats, prepare groats: put barley to soak the night before.
  2. Put the meat into (1 litre) water and let it boil, removing foam.
  3. Add the barley. Season with salt and pepper.
  4. Until soap is cooking, go out and pick some fresh weed. Boil eggs.
  5. Add the weed into soup, season with a vine. Let simmer until barley is soft.
  6. Serve with boiled eggs and sour cream.

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Michaelmas Day lamb chops in Yarrow and Cranberry sauce. Mihklipäeva lammas raudrohukastmes.

lammas (1)On 29th of September is St. Michal day, Michaelmas Day. This day was end of the summer working season.
Englishmen used to say ” Every dog has its day”. But Estonians are saying ” Every tup has its Mihklipäev”. This proverb has two meanings. The first one, as in english: all bad things would be punished. And the second is the direct meaning. On St Michal Day usually sheep was killed and  Lamb had for Michaelmas Day, as traditional dish.

Yarrow is very important medicinal plant in Estonian folk medicine.  Estonian healers used and using still yarrow  of quite a broad-range effect, which also helped to regulate metabolism, stimulates digestion and reduces the onset of stomach cramps and helped against cough and colds and so one.

Yarrow is quite bitter and has little bit anise taste. So, be careful with dosing.

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Meadowsweet Syrup with Red Currants. Angervaksa – punasesõstrasiirup

angervaksasiirup (10)Meadow-sweet is just amazing. It is healthy, taste and flavour are wonderful. Smell it! The smell drives your crazy, This is a smell of summer and freedom and childhood summer holidays with grandmother.
And what is most important: it is for free. A small walk in the meadows is just for the bonus.

Meadowsweet by yourself is sweet and tastes like almond. Currants give more deepness, flavour and tartness. You can use other sour berries like rhubarb or strawberries.  And get a maybe more interesting result.

And look at this colour!! 🙂

Where to use?  Taste the drinks. During wintertime, it helps to cure fever and cold. Use for flavouring salads, marinades and sauces.

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