» wild asparagus http://italyville.com the result of growing up Italian Tue, 01 May 2012 21:34:24 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 Stuff Italians Like – Wild Edibles http://italyville.com/2010/05/stuff-italians-like-wild-edibles/ http://italyville.com/2010/05/stuff-italians-like-wild-edibles/#comments Thu, 06 May 2010 20:15:20 +0000 Joe http://italyville.com/?p=1508 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.  [...]]]>

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.

]]> http://italyville.com/2010/05/stuff-italians-like-wild-edibles/feed/ 13 Wild Asparagus in Calabria http://italyville.com/2009/03/wild-asparagus-in-calabria/ http://italyville.com/2009/03/wild-asparagus-in-calabria/#comments Mon, 16 Mar 2009 22:04:27 +0000 Joe http://italyville.com/?p=503 I’m finally back from Italy and have been looking forward to posting.  I wanted to post while I was there but between family, friends and eating there was little time… not to mention my lack of Internet access.  Anyway it rained a lot but my cousin Alessandro and I took advantage of the few [...]]]>

I’m finally back from Italy and have been looking forward to posting.  I wanted to post while I was there but between family, friends and eating there was little time… not to mention my lack of Internet access.  Anyway it rained a lot but my cousin Alessandro and I took advantage of the few sunny days we had and went foraging for wild asparagus.  As you know from some of my past posts… I like to get in the woods to find wild mushrooms but this time a year in Calabria it’s wild asparagus.

My Aunt makes a delicious frittata!

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