During my recent stay back in Canada, I found myself reminiscing about the long walks, deep within the folds of Sardinia’s glorious green mountains where I learned to hunt wild asparagus. It’s a prickly, skinny, long and utterly wild plant, and more often than not I was left with razor-sharp cuts on my arms and hands. There was even this time I fell into the base of the asparagus plant, and well, that didn’t go to good. Cuts, scrapes and blood up and down both legs, on the palm of my hands and even my right elbow got into the fight, but that didn’t stop me from my yearning to sample the earth’s wild delights.
Where the wild asparagus grows.
It took me years to pick out the lengthy green stalks from the entangled mess of the plant and once I did, I was delirious with excitement. I now have the expert eye, or so I should like to think as I can spot growing, fresh asparagus from a moving car. All I need to do is yell out “Asparagau!” and hubby stops the car, I hop out and add a stalk or four to the already growing mass of stalks.
Two stalks of asparagus growing with ease.
Generally, the good long stalks are growing within that mass of branches in the background of the above photos. There’s where all the cuts and scrapes come from, it’s worth every blood drop lost.
A few of my favorite recipes with Sardinia’s wild asparagus:
- Asparagus and onion fritatta
- Pasta with sautéed pancetta, onion, garlic and asparagus
- Sautéed asparagus and potatoes with raw garlic
- Pickled Asparagus
The list could go on! I can’t wait to get back out there for another asparagus hunt where the sun kisses my face and the earth provides delicious wild treats.
A bunch of wild asparagus
Thank you, Sardinia for providing essential nutrients that I can gather with my own two hands. I am eternally grateful.
Is there anything wild and delicious in your area?
