Shock green wild garlic crepes, which can be served as a side dish or as an appetizer when filled with crème fraiche and smoked salmon.
These wild garlic crepes are so amazing!!! Not they only look great, but they taste at least just as good as they look. Fill them with some crème fraiche, wasabi and smoked salmon and you will have the perfect springtime appetizer. Or a light main dish if you serve them with a soup or with salad.
Table of contents
What is wild garlic?
Allium ursinum (Latin for bear's garlic) is native to Europe and Asia. It is widespread across Europe, and also known throughout North America, in the Eastern half of the United States and on the West coast.
It has a very short season in spring, which is now, in April and until June, depending on where in Europe you are. Right now, the German woods are full of it, I could pick tons of it. You can usually buy it at the farmer's market and many supermarkets sell it as well.
To learn more about it, especially how to pick and clean it safely, read What to Do with Wild Garlic?
What to do with wild garlic?
- You can have it fresh, in salads, mixed with some other salad leaves, because otherwise, the garlic taste would be too much.
- You can make soup, you can stir-fry it with potatoes, other greens, and vegetables.
- Or spreads and dips, either vegan with seeds or cheesy ones with feta or cream cheese.
- And don't forget some wild garlic butter, make a batch and freeze it in smaller portions.
- Make salt, best made during sunnier springs when you can leave the mixture dry in the sun for a couple of days.
- Infused oil and vinegar are also great, and they also make good homemade gifts.
- And actually, the most important use for it is the wild garlic pesto. I make at least 10 little jars of sunflower and almond pesto every spring. I freeze them and we can enjoy them all year long until the next spring.
How to make?
The pancakes or crepes are easy to make, they are incredibly delicious and they look stunning. They would make a really impressive appetizer or side dish for a dinner party, you will get lots of compliments.
- All you need to do is to blend the chopped leaves with the milk.
- Add the remaining ingredients and that's it, the batter is already made.
- Let it rest for 15-20 minutes and fry the pancakes.
- Use a non-stick pan of about 26-28 cm/ 10-11 inches.
- Brush it very lightly with vegetable oil, add about one small soup ladle full of batter and tilt the pan so that the batter covers the bottom of the pan.
- If you feel that the batter has difficulties in stretching, add a splash of extra milk to make it slightly thinner.
- If you use a pan of the indicated size, you will get about 8 pieces.
- If your pan is smaller you will get more. The size of the pan is really not important, small or large, the taste is the same and they all look pretty.
- Fry for about 1 to 1 ½ minutes on the first side and for another ½ to 1 minute on the second side.
How to serve?
Smoked salmon filling
- This smoked salmon and crème Fraiche filling is just a serving idea, completely optional, but really good!
- Spread 1-2 teaspoons crème fraiche on each crepe.
- Add some wasabi paste, if you like, but remember that wasabi is very very hot, so use sparingly.
- Top with thin smoked salmon slices and roll.
- Halve and enjoy.
- You can also slice the filled crepes into thick rolls, stick a toothpick in each roll and serve them as finger food.
Other fillings
- Steamed thin asparagus spears and cream cheese or, even better, sauce Hollandaise.
- Mushroom ragout.
- Thin prosciutto slices and some cheese.
- Cream cheese, thin cucumber slices, or chopped tomatoes (deseeded), topped with cress, rocket, mung bean, or radish sprouts.
Side dish
- I often serve the wild garlic crepes as a side dish for mushroom stew.
- You can also serve them with chicken stew, for instance.
- They are also great served with a clear vegetable soup, tomato soup, or many other creamy soups.
More crepes or pancakes?
- Polish Crepes - Nalesniki - Filled with a smooth, sweet and delicious quark cheese filling.
- Beetroot Crepes - Pink-colored beetroot crepes with a savory or sweet filling, a nice idea for breakfast or brunch.
- Basic Crepes - with creme fraiche and rhubarb compote.
- German Cast-Iron Pancakes - Baked and served with strawberry sauce.
- Zucchini Feta Pancakes - Soft, savory zucchini pancakes with feta cheese and herbs.
Green Wild Garlic Crepes
Shock green wild garlic crepes, which can be served as a side dish or as an appetizer when filled with crème fraiche and smoked salmon.
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Servings: 8
Calories: 326kcal
Ingredients
- Wild garlic crepes:
- 125 g/ 4.4 oz wild garlic
- 350 g/ 12 oz/ 1 ½ cups milk
- 3 eggs
- 225 g/ 8 oz/ 1 ¾ cup all-purpose flour
- a pinch of salt
- some vegetable oil
- Filling optional:
- 200 g/ 7 oz smoked salmon
- 175 g/ 6.2 oz/ ¾ cup crème fraiche more or less as needed
- some wasabi optional and as much (little) as desired
Instructions
Wild garlic crepes:
- Remove the stalks from the wild garlic. Wash and dry the leaves very well. Chop the leaves roughly, place them in the food processor, add the milk and puree until smooth.
- Add the eggs, flour, and salt, mix well and let the mixture rest for about 30 minutes. The batter should be slightly runny, add a bit more milk if too thick.
- Heat a non-stick pan and brush it very lightly with oil. Add some batter, tilt the pan to help the batter spread all over and cook the crepes on medium heat for 1 to 1 ½ minute on the first side.
- Flip with a plastic spatula and cook on the other side for another ½ minute or so. You should not cook them too long in order to keep a nice green color.
Filling:
- Spread 1-2 teaspoons crème fraiche on each crepe.
- Add a little wasabi, if you like it (it is very hot, use sparingly).
- Top with thin smoked salmon slices and roll. Halve the rolled crepes or cut into thick rolls to serve as finger food (stick a toothpick in each roll, in this case).
Nutrition
Serving: 1g | Calories: 326kcal | Carbohydrates: 30g | Protein: 13g | Fat: 17g | Saturated Fat: 8g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 8g | Cholesterol: 107mg | Sodium: 685mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g
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Angie@Angie's Recipes says
I just love green and beautiful these crepes are! Isn't GREEN sexy? I wish my husband understood that.
Adina says
It is sexy, my favorite color! 🙂
Chris Scheuer says
I love the beautiful green color and I know the flavor is amazing. Your kids have amazingly adult taste!
Adina says
Thank you, Chris! Well, my kids only have adult taste sometimes, most of the times they start whining when they see green......
Dawn @ Girl Heart Food says
I've never had 'wild garlic' before, but I'm sure it's delicious. Garlic is such a wonderful addition to any recipe. LOVE the colour of these crepes, Adina! So bright! Yay for getting the kiddos to eat this. You must have been so proud when they asked when you were going to make again! Your initial thought to have as wraps with asparagus and hollandaise sounds awesome, but you have to get what's fresh, right 😉 ? I'm sure those mushrooms with it was perfect too! Yum!
Adina says
Wild garlic is really great, Dawn, do give it a chance if you can find it in your area. Garlicky but not as strong as real garlic, with a fresh herb aroma, I just can't have enough of it. I made 15 jars of garlic pesto this year to make sure we can enjoy its taste until next spring!
Nicoletta @sugarlovespices says
I love everything green and those crepes look and sound delicious! The pairing with mushrooms is perfect, I'd love to have that dish right now for lunch 🙂 .
Adina says
You would love it, Nicoletta.
Kate @ Framed Cooks says
Green is my favorite color, not just for food but for everything! And now you have inspired me to try wild garlic. 🙂
Adina says
If wild garlic grows in your area, you definitely have to give it a try. It's addictive!
Balvinder says
I love green food. I’ve never tried making crepes with anything other than plain white flour–I need to venture out more!
Adina says
Me too, Balvinder. After trying these crepes, I am also willing to venture out more in this area.
Miriam - londonkitchendiaries.com says
I love the taste of wild garlic and its many health benefits! The colour of your crepes is absolutely fantastic I am sure they are incredibly yummy!
Adina says
Thank you, Miriam.
Brie says
Wow those crepes are a show stopper! The deep green color is sooo cool Adina. I bet they tasted amazing paired with rich creamy mushrooms too, what a treat!
Adina says
I totally loved them, Brie. I can't wait to make them again next year.
Kevin Lock says
I live in Guatemala. I don't think there's any wild garlic anywhere near here. Is there a way to substitute something for it? Spinach and garlic blended together maybe?
Adina says
Hi Kevin. I don't think wild garlic grows in Guatemala, it grows in colder regions. Spinach and garlic would work well.