Homemade Nettle Fettuccine Alfredo

When I was little, a friend who had come to our house for dinner told everyone at school the next day that my family was weird because we ate GREEN spaghetti! In a small rural town in an era when foods like avocados and even bagels were considered novelty items, spinach pasta - my mom's clever way to sneak greens into our meals - definitely earned me a reputation as the kid who ate the wackiest food. Well it turns out old habits die hard and true to my roots, I'm still eating green pasta today.

This recipe is made with nettles but you could substitute spinach if you prefer.

Since our giant nettle patch seems to be on a mission to take over the entire yard, it gets mowed frequently and therefore grows new tender shoots all through the summer. Its persistent presence is both a blessing and a curse, depending on who you ask. I love to cook with nettle because of its outstanding nutritional qualities. Nettles are so full of beneficial nutrients and compounds that they are used medicinally to treat a wide range of ailments. As a culinary green, they're so densely packed with minerals and vitamins that they surpass most other leafy greens in terms of nutritional content, turning this simple pasta recipe into an unexpected superfood.

Making homemade pasta is surprisingly easy. If you're like me, you may have put off making it for years because you don't own a pasta maker. Well guess what? You don't need one, and as can you see in the video, you don't even need a rolling pin. An old wine bottle will do the trick just fine! Pasta dough is simple to work with: knead it well, give it a little resting time, pay attention to its needs (if it's on the dry side, add a little water, if it's too sticky add a little flour), and you shall be generously rewarded.

If you're looking for nettles (also known as stinging nettles), you can often find them in the wild, and occasionally at farmer's markets or health food stores. True to their name, they do sting so it's best to wear gloves when handling them though I find I can harvest them comfortably with bare hands if I only allow them to come into contact with the pads of my fingertips. Nettles lose their sting within 30 seconds of cooking. As in life, sometimes the people with the prickliest personalities are the most interesting to get to know, once you get past their initial sting and give them a chance. Bon appétit!

PS: If you're a nettle lover, be sure to also check out my recipe for nettlekopita.

Aube is a passionate organic gardener and home cook who likes to share the stories of how food gets to our dinner plates. Her work has been shown on television and at international film festivals. Her web series was nominated for a 2014 James Beard Award. In 2012, she was the recipient of Saveur Magazine's Best Food Blog award in the video category.