Bring a pot of water to a boil and blanch as many nettles as you’d like to use for about one minute. Drain and squeeze out excess water. Don’t discard this nettle “tea”. You can drink it or use it in recipes--it’s full of nutrients.

In a food processor, place nettles, a handful of nuts or seeds, a clove or two of garlic, a drizzle of olive oil, and a sprinkling of salt. Whiz until bright green and smooth. Taste, and adjust quantities to your liking. Freeze in a small mason jar or in ice cube trays--I find two ice cubes full of pesto per person is just about right for dressing pasta.

First published in the Spring 2017 issue of Edible Alaska.