If you grew up Italian,you probably have a relative that forages for wild plants and mushrooms. I was lucky enough to tag along with my father,uncles and nonno when I was a kid to learn from them and to this day,heading into the woods has remained one of my favorite pastimes. So yesterday I headed out to a favorite spot of mine in search for some wild edible plants.
My targets were 2:asparagus and morel mushrooms. I know where to find the first but the second has managed to eluded me once again (stupid Morels!)
The Asparagus are ready! As you can tell from the photo,these asparagus at one time were farmed. They are much different than the ones we found in Calabria.
read how we came across this wonderful field of asparagus last year.
When we got the asparagus home,we cooked them up and wrapped them in prosciutto! (of course we did…it makes them more Italian.)
The morels are still a mystery…but I will find them someday. Here are a few other wild things I came across.
Wild Onions (I think they are officially wild garlic…but they look and smell a lot more like onions to me)
Wild Onions were everywhere!
Wild Mustard Greens …little late when they’ve flowered.
Wild Carrot
Wild Strawberries will be ready soon!
Orpine –The leaves are great raw or in salads.
It’s true: Italians like foraging for wild things.
No foraging in my family…but I love your photographs of your findings.
I have the La Cucina cookbook (wonderful,fabulous,fascinating,alluring…) and what struck me is how whole regions developed a cuisine from foraging! And how the same dish varies by using ingredients that grow wild in their vicinity. I am hooked to that book as it’s a mystery…maybe it is…And I just splurged on morels (sigh). I live in MN and it’s morel season and there’s the right tree…but nary a sign of the delectable funghi. Sneaky little guys. Love your photos. I am so there.
I grew up picking those wild asparagus beside my parents –and the wild mustard greens I still find around here. I have a freezer full of them from this season. I never used those wild onions but they grow all over my yard! Maybe I should let them get bigger and harvest them. Never heard of that orpine. What’s that taste like?
Joe,
where did you find these wild plants? Near you in Mass?
You’ve got a whole feast for free there. Shame the prosciutto doesn’t grow wild.
What,no rape or rucola? We’ve got lots of that growing around here too. I think the asparagus are all done now though. Darn!
Joe,I loved the video of your picking wild asparagus in Calabria! When we visited my husband’s home town in Calabria we found wild blood orange trees in the hills and caper flowers,and my husband’s favorite “figa di Indiana.”So nice to be able to find fabulous ingredients for free!
I loved this blog post. I remember going with my Nonni to find watercress,but my favorite weed was the burdock shoots she picked and then made the most delicious burdock patties. I have forever happy memories of all the good things we ate from Nonni’s weeds.
Between weeds and animal innards,we had the most delicious foods –wonderful chewy,spicy tripe and fried chicken blood.
Thank you for reminding me.
Joe,great pictures,enjoyed them very much
I have memories of seeing my aunts and uncles picking dandelion greens and coming home and eating salads made from them. I love how the asparagus grow wild,great photos Joe!
I love foraging,Joe,it’s definitely in our blood. It must be incredible to find a field of “wild”asparagus. Now mushrooms,on the other hand,I would like to have a guide to go foraging with. Great post!
Just came across your blog. My cousins in Castel di Tora forage for asparagi and black tartufo. It is amazing and delicious!
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