Wild garlic potato salad

                                                                                                                                                                 Wild garlic and potato salad

Spring has sprung and remarkably has remain sprung for the past few weeks. We have been marking the warmer weather by eating lots of salads which is good as I've got to get my bikini on in 3 weeks and counting. The summer holiday is fast approaching.

I had a walk down by the river this morning and came across some wild garlic. I smelt it before I saw it as is often the way with this foraged treat. In my excitement of collecting some for my lunch I managed to grab a handful of neighbouring stinging nettle. Drat or words to that extent.

Wild garlic is available from March to the end of May but is much more pleasant at the start of the season before it flowers. It is normally found on riverbanks and shady hedgerows and is common throughout most of the UK.

                                                                                                                                                                                Wild garlic leaves

Wild garlic is characterised by slender, shiny, elliptical leaves that are almost “wet” to touch. The flower is like a white little star.

One word of warning with regards to finding your own wild garlic is that there is several species that look similar but are poisons and have caused deaths in recent years. These include Lilly of the Valley and Autumn Crocus. However, none of them smell like garlic so if you think you might be able to ward off vampires with your find you probably are on the right track.

Wild garlic potato salad serves 2

Enough new potatoes for 2 people I like a bit of “Charlotte”

20 new wild garlic leaves, finely sliced

10 sprigs of flat leaf parsley, finely sliced

2tsps small cappers chopped

1tsp dijon mustard

1tsp wholegrain mustard

2tbsp white whine vinegar

6tbps extra virgin olive oil

rock salt and pepper to taste

Half or quarter the potatoes depending on the size.

Boil in a pan of salted water for anywhere between 8-15 minutes depending on how fresh your potatoes are.

Keep tasting them until you feel they are ready.

In the meantime add all the other ingredients together in a bowl and mix.

Drain the potatoes and add in the dressing.

Brilliant with smoked fish such as smoked salmon or hot smoked trout.

Enjoy and don’t go getting yourself killed, forage at your own risk!