¼cup2 oz grated parmesan plus more for lining the pan
¾teaspoonkosher salt
¼teaspoongrated numeg
1teaspoonfreshly ground black pepper
1small bulb garlic
1cup1 oz chopped ramp leaves or green onions optional
¾cupmild olive oil, or extra virgin mixed 50/50 with another oil plus more for greasing the pan (see note)
¼cupmilk or equivalent
12ozfresh nettle leaves and tender stems
⅓cup2oz chopped black walnuts or other nuts (optional)
Instructions
Cut ¼ inch off the top of the garlic bulb, leaving the root attached. Drizzle it with oil just to grease it, then wrap in foil and bake at 350 until just tender, about 30 minutes or so, then remove and cool.
Blanch the nettles in boiling, lightly salted water until tender, about 30 seconds to 1 minute, then cool in cold water, squeeze very dry, and chop medium-fine.
Mix the flour, salt, pepper, nutmeg, and baking powder.
Meanwhile, squeeze the roasted garlic paste from the cooled bulb and reserve 2 tablespoons of it, saving the rest to smear on some toast or another purpose.
Put the nettles into a food processor or blender, add the garlic paste, milk and eggs, then process, slowly drizzling in the oil to make a smooth puree. It may take a while, and you may need to scrape down the sides of the bowl. A vitamix is the best tool.
Meanwhile, rub a loaf pan with oil or butter, then sprinkle with parmesan.
Transfer the nettle puree to a bowl then fold in the ramp leaves, parmesan, and finally the flour.
Pour into the loaf pan, bang the pan onto a table to settle the batter, sprinkle the top with parmesan, then bake in a preheated 350 F oven for 45 minutes, or until just cooked through and browned.
Remove the loaf from the pan and cool on a resting rack completely before slicing.
The bread can be frozen after cooling, just like banana bread.
Notes
You have to be very patient adding the oil here, especially if you don't have a vitamix or highspeed blender. If you've ever made mayonnaise or aioli, the process will be similar. If too much oil gets added at once, the batter will break (my failures weren't pictured, but they were real) and the finished loaf will be a dense, greasy rock.