I've learned something new!
I love rediscovering all the lovely things the Earth has to offer for us to enjoy in our food.
I must admit I'm not really actively studying. Like walking around with a book or an app trying to find out what plant is is that I've come across. While I'm still a nomad moving about in different climate zones I'm not as motivated. It's like with the languages, I've started learning Montenegrin when we were in Montenegro and Bulgarian while in Bulgaria, but ultimately I'm not staying there so I forget most of the words again, overwriting them with the language of the next country.
As soon as I know where we'll settle, I'm sure I'll be super motivated to make an effort and learn about all the plants in the area. Already looking forward to it <3
So for now I'm just open to every bit of information about edible/medicinal plants that comes my way.
beautifully overgrown stone stairs in the garden
My man and me just moved into yet another apartment.
We're not ready for vanlife yet, although it's actually warm enough already. But we really enjoy having the space to work on our projects, which is not really possible in the van.
We have found (with the help of a friend) a nice little apartment in a small quiet village by the coast of Southern Albania.
There's a wild garden that belongs to the property and when we moved in our friend showed us three kinds of wild herbs that grow here and obiously are a standart part of Albanian dishes!
He said, because the building is at the very end of a small dirt road quite high up the hillside and there are no other people around (only a few cats that roam around the plot) the plants are quite protected and clean. He sometimes comes up here to gather some for his family as well.
He showed me three different kinds, but only gave me one name for all of them: "Lakra Te Egra"
I've put it into Google Translate and it says "Wild Cabbage" ... not sure ... they don't look like cabbage at all ^^
Yesterday I went to pick some for our dinner (with the help of some photos I had taken of the plants while our friend showing them).
They are not easy to spot. Look, this one is hiding beside a rock!
I love the state of mind I'm in while gathering plants. I'm so much more present and observant :)
Another one hiding!
I do talk to the plants and thank them, tell them how beautiful they are, how freshly they smell, and how grateful I am about all the good they carry inside them.
I assure them that one day, when I die, my body will nourish all their brothers and sisters and I'll be part of the cycle too.
In Albanian dishes we learned that you boil them in water (after cleaning them) for about 10 minutes. Then you sprinkle olive oil and lemon juice over them and serve them as a side dish for fish or anything you like.
We didn't do it quite the Albanian way, but almost, still finding out our favorite way of eating them.
But we already fell in love!
They have a subtle bitter taste, like rocket or dandelion, and it just feels really good to eat. I could feel my body rejoice! This is actual food!
We're still wondering if we could also eat them raw?
If anyone of you has any more information on these plants please let me know!
I'm actually almost sure we can eat them raw, like spinach and rocket ... but we haven't dared trying yet ^^
They grow pretty fast. Our friend told us we can pick them every three or four days. He showed us to cut them at the root right where the leaves start, so the plant can grow new ones.
I'm very grateful for having learned about the "Lakra Te Egra"!
I love picking my own food and it's great to have some pure Nature on my plate :)
