Digging Up Earthnuts (Conopodium Majus)

The custom of grubbing for Earthnuts, or Pignuts is as ancient as mankind itself. Although these tasty tubers are beloved of pigs (hence the name) they are a most unusual and rewarding woodland snack and there was a time when they were a popular nibble for country children on their way to and from school.

The fern like leaves appear along with the Lesser Celandine in the spring. During May and July they develop umbellifer heads with white flowers not unlike Cow Parsley. According to Gerard and others the Dutch once ate them 'boiled and buttered, as we do parseneps and carrots'. Unearthing a pignut is a delicate operation. The root disconnects from the tuber very easily, which can be several inches from where the stem appears above ground.

Follow the stem under the earth using careful scraping with a twig, fingernail or knife. Eventually you will reach the pignut which is covered with a chestnut coloured skin. If you can wash the nut at this stage it avoids getting muddy fingernails while peeling. As soon as I found the one shown in the picture, an earthworm appeared and dived into the hole it left!

Scrape off the papery outer coating to reveal the Earthnut. The older name for Earthnuts is 'Earth Chestnuts' and this gives you a clue to their taste - a chestnut texture but with a more earthy taste. There's nothing like carefully digging one of these up during a walk in the woods. Do it with your fingernails. As the earthy taste hits the senses you are drawn more completely into contact with the nature around you. A true 'pomme de terre'.

Gerard's Herbal mentions that 'There is a Plaister made of the seeds hereof, whereof to write in this place were impertinent to our historie'....Probably witches again! Earthnuts get a mention in Shakespeare's 'Tempest', from Caliban as he promises:

"I prithee, let me bring thee where crabs grow;
And with my long nails I will dig thee pignuts".

With thanks to R. Maybee, R. Phillips and M. Woodward's version of Gerard's Herbal.

From an ebook called 'Wild Food' underway at simonthescribe. If you wish to republish this article (with this resource box intact) you will find excellent quality pictures to accompany it at http://www.simonthescribe.co.uk/pignuts.html

---

Low Fat French Toast

French toast was one of my favorite breakfast foods when... Read More

Party Appetizer Recipes ? So Easy And So Affordable!

These are two of my favorite party appetizer recipes that... Read More

Low-Carb Pastry Pizzazz

This delicious treat adds only 1.9 grams of carb for... Read More

Chocolate Velvet Cheesecake

Cheesecake is one of the most popular desserts around today.... Read More

Low Fat Salmon Recipes

Finding delicious low fat salmon recipes has just become easier... Read More

Kid Party Food - Without the Stress!

Kid party food doesn't have to take hours to prepare... Read More

Going Halfway Around the World: How to Make German Cookies

I absolutely loved experimenting with foreign recipes, especially dessert recipes,... Read More

Easy No-Roll Pie Crust

EASY No-Roll Pie Crust3 cups flour1 teaspoon salt2 teaspoons sugar2/3... Read More

Crockpot Cooking - Advantages and Disadvantages

In my 'un-biased' opinion, the crockpot / slow cooker is... Read More

Frugal and Easy Thanksgiving Recipes

Here it is - that time of year when everyone's... Read More

A Scone Recipe for Dinner or Lunch

There are two ways to pronounce scone. "Skon" in England... Read More

Burmese Shrimp Cake Recipe

Little pounded shrimp balls seasoned and fried till lightly brown.... Read More

Grandmas Peach Canning Recipe

Grandma loved to bake peach pies or top pancakes with... Read More

Blue Cheese Omnivorous

IngredientsRomaine Lettuce (head $1.29) 1 pound of steak ($10 per... Read More

Weight Loss Recipe: Fish In Orange Sauce

Lean protein is your diet is essential to weight loss... Read More

How I Made Flourless Peanut Butter Cookies In Simple, Super Easy Steps

I was sitting there watching one of my favorite tv... Read More

Texas Pecan Treats

Come August, there is nowhere I'd rather NOT be than... Read More

African Bean Soup

Yoruba ethnic group from the Southwestern part of Nigeria call... Read More

Toasted Spiced Walnuts

You can trust me that I make sure to take... Read More

Rosemary flower candies (Rosemarinus officinalis)

Leave your tic-tacs at home. This medicinal plant provides delicious... Read More

Rib-Eye Steak with Mushrooms and Bleu Cheese

This is a mouth watering steak. Every time I serve... Read More

Cool Summer Gazpacho

This refreshing tomato soup is a great cool meal for... Read More

Vegetarian Gourmet----Meatless Makeovers

Three years ago I decided to go "meatless." It wasn't... Read More

Low Fat Flaming Bananas Treat

Nutritional Information: Serves 3, Fat: 8 g, Cal: 299, KJ:... Read More

5-Minute Strawberry Jam

Nothing tastes better than fresh picked strawberries. For many people,... Read More

Planning Help: Meal Two

One meal planning challenge for me has been to `lighten... Read More

Low Fat Banana Toasts

I love bananas for breakfast.I think bananas a convenient food... Read More

Chocolate Zucchini Cake Creates National Zucchini Shortage

There are few garden vegetable that are prolific as zucchini... Read More

Are You Looking for a Breathtaking Chili?

Chili cooks always want to discover that award-winning chili recipe... Read More

Weight Loss Recipe: Oven Fried Chicken

Enjoy the sensation of fried chicken without the extra calories... Read More

Chicken with White Wine & Pasta

Here is a great recipe that is so simple to... Read More

Summer Salads

Green vegetables are the food most missing in modern diets.... Read More

Chili Recipe - A Red Chili Nightmare!

This chili recipe is, indeed, a really nightmare! Taste it... Read More