Nettle and Mushroom Bisque Recipe

Creating soup recipes that feature Oregon native plants and mushrooms can result in delicious and unique flavors. Here are five top-notch recipes that combine these local ingredients:

2. Nettle and Mushroom Bisque: Ingredients:

• Fresh nettle leaves (use gloves when handling), washed and chopped

• Assorted mushrooms (such as cremini, shiitake, or oyster), cleaned and sliced

• Leeks, cleaned and chopped

• Potato, peeled and diced

• Vegetable or chicken broth

• Heavy cream

• Olive oil or butter

• Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:

1. In a pot, sauté chopped leeks in olive oil or butter until tender.

2. Add diced potato and sliced mushrooms. Sauté for a few minutes.

3. Pour in enough vegetable or chicken broth to cover the ingredients. Simmer until the potatoes are tender.

4. Add chopped nettle leaves and cook for a few more minutes.

5. Use an immersion blender to blend the soup until smooth.

6. Stir in heavy cream to achieve the desired creamy consistency.

7. Season the soup with salt and pepper to taste.

8. Serve the nettle and mushroom bisque warm.

These recipes showcase the rich flavors of Oregon's native plants and mushrooms, creating hearty and comforting soups that celebrate the region's natural bounty. Remember to responsibly forage or purchase wild ingredients and to confirm plant and mushroom identifications before use.