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

In The News:
A No-Recipe Recipe Manifesto  The New York Times
Hot sauce spaghetti recipe  Telegraph.co.uk

Low Fat Flaming Bananas Treat

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

Low Carb Barbeque Sauce

Is there such a thing as low carb bbq sauce... Read More

Nutritious Chocolate Recipes

Are you eating enough fruit lately? How about chocolate? Well,... Read More

Do You Know How Many Ways There Are To Eat A Cat Head Biscuit?

A time honored Southern tradition, the infamous "Cat Head" biscuit... Read More

Teas from Wild Plants and Their Benefits

All these teas (unless specified) are brewed with one teaspoon... Read More

How to Make Kaiser Rolls

Want to impress your family and friends at the next... Read More

Italian Recipes ? Top 3 Dinner Recipes That You Should Prepare Tonight!

If you are wondering what to prepare for dinner tonight,... Read More

Fortunate Lemon Chicken

A delicious chicken meal for you to prepare at home.... Read More

Chicken Adobo

This particular recipe is Phillipian. Here are the ingredients you... Read More

Cooking Roast Prime Rib on the Grill

Love the taste of prime rib? Love the taste of... Read More

Chili Recipe - A Red Chili Nightmare!

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

Swiss Chard - What Do I Do With That?

Originally, all foods were "organic" ? grown and prepared without... Read More

Fish Recipes

These recipes are wonderful and they are old family recpies.... Read More

Weight Loss Recipe: Apricot Chicken

Just because you are watching your weight, doesn't mean the... Read More

Fire Cracker Italian Sausage Pasta

You will find that this recipe is very easy to... Read More

Chocolate Tasting Techniques

First of all start with an empty stomach. This has... Read More

Texas Pecan Treats

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

Oatmeal-Apple-Raisin Muffins

These muffins are not only tasty, but they're also a... Read More

The Ultimate Chocolate Chip Cookie Experience

Just about everyone loves freshly baked chocolate chip cookies. Many... Read More

Homemade Cinnamon Rolls from Scratch (in 2 hours or less!)

If I've heard it once, I've heard it a dozen... Read More

Simply Salads

"It is just sensible."exclaimed my friend. She was referring to... Read More

Holiday Leftover Ideas

The holidays are a time for friends and family and... Read More

Crab Stuffed Salmon with Lobster Sauce

I served this dish at an event I catered and... Read More

The World According To Penne

Penne pasta is a product of Naples, Italy. The pasta... Read More

My Grandmothers Heritage Recipe

The whole thing started when my sister-in-law called to say... Read More