Wild garlic is one of the first great flavors spring brings us. When the forest floor turns green and the scent of mild garlic spreads, you know spring is truly underway.

This green plant has become increasingly popular in recent years, and it's no wonder. Wild garlic has a fresh and mild taste of garlic and onion, but without becoming as sharp as regular garlic. It therefore works perfectly in many types of dishes – both for everyday meals and slightly fancier dinners.

What's good about wild garlic?

Wild garlic is first and foremost incredibly flavorful. It brings lots of aroma with a fresh, green and natural garlic taste. It can be used fresh, chopped, crushed, dried or mixed into oil, butter and sauces.

It's also a nice way to use nature's own ingredients. Many associate wild garlic with spring, forest walks and locally sourced food. There's something special about using seasonal ingredients at their very best.

Things you can make with wild garlic

Here are some of the best things you can make with wild garlic:

Wild garlic pesto

A classic. Blend wild garlic together with oil, nuts or seeds, parmesan and a bit of lemon. Perfect with pasta, bread, fish, chicken or as a side to grilled food.

Wild garlic butter

Mix finely chopped wild garlic with room temperature butter and a pinch of salt. This is lovely on freshly baked bread, steak, potatoes, vegetables or corn on the cob.

Wild garlic oil

Mix wild garlic with a good oil and strain it if you want a smoother oil. Works well over pizza, soup, salads or oven-baked vegetables.

Wild garlic soup

Wild garlic can be used in a mild and green spring soup, preferably together with potatoes, onions, cream or vegetable broth.

Wild garlic in scrambled eggs or omelet

Finely chopped wild garlic works incredibly well with eggs. It gives a fresh and mild garlic taste without taking over completely.

Wild garlic in focaccia or bread

Chop wild garlic and mix it into the dough, or use it as a topping together with oil and salt. It gives fantastic flavor.

Wild garlic with potatoes

Toss boiled or oven-baked potatoes with wild garlic butter, a bit of salt and pepper. Simple and very delicious.

Important to remember when harvesting wild garlic

Wild garlic must be harvested with care. It can be confused with poisonous plants such as lily of the valley and autumn crocus. A good indicator is that wild garlic clearly smells like garlic when the leaves are rubbed between your fingers, but you should always be completely sure before using wild plants in food.

Also harvest with moderation. Take a little here and there, and leave enough so that the plant can continue to grow year after year.

Wild garlic is simply a little spring treasure. It's simple, green, flavorful and full of possibilities in the kitchen. Once you've started using it, it's easy to understand why so many look forward to wild garlic season every year.