Wild garlic butter

Super easy to make and a perfect partner with campfire bread.

Introduction

If you go for a spring walk in some woodland then you are very likely to smell wild garlic. Enjoy the flavour too and learn how to forage safely, identify and make some delicious wild garlic butter.

What you'll need

wild garlic leaves
knife or scissors
chopping board
bowl
spoon
butter

This activity has been provided by

Useful items from our shop

Item available from our shop

Environmental Considerations

Consider the environmental impact of preparing, carrying out & completing this activity. Could this impact be reduced? Specific considerations for this activity could include:

refer to our tips for foraging

Health & Safety Considerations

Follow your usual operating procedures and carry out appropriate risk benefit assessments.
Some considerations particular to this activity include:

positive identification (use a guide book, and don’t forget to smell what you gather) tips for foraging
choice of picking site
wash before use
knife/scissor use
hand washing

Notes:

* we made ours with 50g of butter and 6 wild garlic leaves. This makes a pretty strongly flavoured butter; make your own batches depending on the quantity needed and how much flavour you want.

Identification:

Wild garlic grows in woodlands and is often found in large patches. The leaves are large and flat and if you rub them between your thumb and forefinger you will get a hit of the pungent garlic smell. Wild garlic grows in woodlands and is often found in large patches. The leaves are large and flat and if you rub them between your thumb and forefinger you will get a hit of the pungent garlic smell.

NB: The smell is important – Lily of the Valley leaves look similar when not in flower, but are poisonous.

If the wild garlic isn’t yet in flower, if you peek amongst the leaves you should see the flower head (middle image).

The wild garlic flower is a small single white head on top of the stalk.

Step #1

Enjoy a walk in the woods and collect some wild garlic leaves; a handful should be plenty (depending on how strong you like your garlic!)

Step #2

Finely chop the leaves.

Step #3

Warm some butter in a bowl (close to the fire if you are planning to have it with campfire food).

Step #4

Add the chopped wild garlic leaves to the butter and mix.

Taste as you go (like the professionals) and get the flavour right for your taste buds. You may also want to add a pinch of salt.

Step #5

Enjoy with campfire bread or campfire baked potatoes!

If you like garlic bread then try wild garlic bread as an alternative - so good!

Take it further:

freeze it and enjoy later in the season.

Disclaimer: Muddy Faces cannot take any responsibility for accidents or damage that occurs as a result of following this activity.You are responsible for making sure the activity is conducted safely.