Wild garlic (čemaž)

Moje povečano zanimanje za zdravilna zelišča sega v lansko leto ravno takle čas. Pozimi sem razmišljala, da bom začela nabirati koprive takoj ko bom lahko in jih sušila za čajne mešanice. S tem se je začelo zanimanje tudi za druge rastline in tako je bila prva rastlina lani, katero sem nabrala ČEMAŽ. Pred tem čemaža nikoli nisem uporabljala in ja....res sem veliko zamudila :D

Ko sem lani prišla na Kal nad Hrastnikom in je bilo v gozdu vse zeleno je bil občutek res...waaaaw. S prijateljicami smo ga nabrale nekaj malega, tako, da smo ga imeli doma za nekaj juh in to je to. Rekla sem si, da letos pa nadoknadim in naberem res veliko.

S fantom sva se odpravila v bližnji gozd, kjer ga je prav tako veliko in ga nabrala za kosilo ter za pesto. Zakaj vse je čemaž dober pa v nadaljevanju.

ČEMAŽ ali divji česen (Allium ursinum)

Čemaž je trajnica, ki ga poznamo tudi pod imenom divji česen, gozdni česen, medvedji česen idr. Divji in gozdni česen se imenuje predvsem po podobnosti s česnom, katerega malo bolje poznamo v kuhinji in sta si med seboj zelo podobna, medtem, ko je čemaž malo bolj zdravilen. Medvedji česen pa se imenuje zato, ker ga uživajo medvedi, ko se spomladi prebudijo za očiščenje organizma. 

Čemaž najdemo v položnih gozdovih povsod po Sloveniji. Liste, ki so podolgovati in svetlo zelene barve, nabiramo v marcu in aprilu, bele cvetove pa nabiramo od aprila naprej. Pri čemažu je potrebno izpostaviti večjo previdnost, da ne pride do zamenjave rastline s katero od njej podobnih strupenih rastlin: jesenskim podleskom ali šmarnico. Na spodnji sliki je lepo razvidno, kakšni so listi posamezne rastline. Naj omenim, da imajo listi čemaža tipičen vonj po česnu, ko ga podrsamo med prsti, medtem, ko ga drugi dve rastlini nimata. 

1. Čemaž, 2. Kačja dresen, 3. Šmarnica, 4. Jesenski podlesek
(www.aktivni.si)

UPORABA

Čemaž ima v primerjavi s česnom večje pozitivne lastnosti, zato je njegova uporaba v zadnjih letih močno narasla. Uporabljamo ga lahko surovega ali pa ga shranimo v steklenih kozarcih ali v skrinji. Jaz sem ga lansko leto shranila v skrinji in je bil okus isti po nekaj mesecih, ko sem naredila čemaževo juho. Surovi se lahko uporabi v solatah, za različne namaze ali za sveže sokove. Iz njega sem letos naredila prvič pesto. Liste sem zmlela in jim dodala malo soli ter olivno olje. Dobro sem zmešala ter dala v majhne kozarčke. Kozarčki naj bodo do vrha dobro napolnjeni in preliti z oljem, da se njihov rok uporabe podaljša. Pesto uporabimo za polivko za testenine, kot dodatek jedem idr.  Najboljša stvar, ki je narejena iz čemaža pa je za moje pojme čemaževa juha. Kremna juha z dodatkom čemaža je božansko dobra. Je pa res, da izgubi med kuho precejšen del zdravilnih lastnosti.

ČEMAŽEVA KREMNA JUHA

Za čemaževo juho rabimo: 

-3 žlice masla

- pol rdeče čebule

- 2 žlici moke

- jušno kocko

- dva šopa čemaža

- 3 velike krompirje

- kislo smetano

V vodi kuhamo krompir in čemaž skupaj. Čemaž lahko malo natrgamo ali pa pustimo celega, saj ga kasneje zmeljemo s paličnim mešalnikom. Medtem damo v kozico maslo in nasekljano čebulo, dodamo dve žlici moke in zalijemo z vodo, v kateri smo raztopili jušno kocko. Ko je krompir kuhan ga skupaj s čemažem zmeljemo s paličnim mešalnikom, mu dodamo prežganje ter še malo pokuhamo. Dodamo kislo smetano in potresemo s popraženimi kruhovimi kockami. 

ZDRAVILNE LASTNOSTI:

Največ zdravilnih lastnosti ima svež čemaž. Vendar se naj z uporabo v teh dneh ne pretirava, saj lahko ima takšna uporaba več slabosti kot koristi (povzroči razdraženost prebavil). Prav tako naj čemaža ne uživajo nosečnice in doječe matere. 

Njegove zdravilne lastnosti:

- ureja prebavo

- odvaja odvečno vodo iz telesa

-deluje kot antibiotik in lahko pomaga pri odganjanju glist

- čisti kri, kožo in dihala

- preprečuje nastajanje krvnih strdkov in notranjih krvavitev

- pomaga pri težavah z dihali in določenih boleznih, povezanimi z njimi med drugim tudi astmo

- čisti ledvice in mehur

- izboljša splošno počutje in prežene spomladansko utrujenost

- poživi (daje energijo)

- sprošča mišice in krepi želodec

- niža in ureja krvni pritisk

- znižuje nivo holesterola

- pomaga zbijati vročino

- blažilno deluje na živčni sistem

Vir: www.bodieko.si/recepti-za-cemaz

Ali tudi vi nabirate čemaž in kaj naredite iz njega?

English:

My increased interest for herbs started last year in this time. I was thinking that I can as soon as possible harvest my own nettle and dry it for tea. And then began the interest for other plants. The first plant last year which I picked was wild garlic. I never used wild garlic before and yes .... I really missed a lot :D

When I came to Kal above Hrastnik last year and saw all green forest my feelings were...waaaaw!! Me and my friends have amassed a little bit of wild garlic so we had it at home for a couple of soups and that's it. I told myself that this year I will collect so much more. 

These days me and my boyfriend went to the nearby forest where we also have a lot of wild garlic. We gather him for lunch and pesto. 

Wild garlic (Allium ursinum)

Wild garlic is a perennial plant, which is also known as forest garlic, bear garlic... Wild garlic is known with his name because of similarity to garlic which we know a little more from the kitchen, while the wild garlic is a little more healing. Bear garlic is called like that because the bears enjoy the wild garlic when they wake up in the spring to purify the body.

You can find wild garlic in the flat forests everywhere in Slovenia. You can gather leaves, which are elongated and light green, in March and April, while white blossoms gather from April onwards. You must be very careful to gather the right plant. Wild garlic is very similar to other poisonous plants: Autumn crocus or lily of the valley. The third picture shows what are the leaves of each plant. I should mention that the wild garlic leaves the typical smell of garlic when you slide him between the fingers while the other two plants don´t have it.

USAGE

Wild garlic has in comparison with garlic more positive features so its use has very increased in these years. It can be used raw or you can store it in glass or in the cool box. Last year I saved it in the cool box and the taste was the same after a few months when I made wild garlic soup. You can use raw wild garlic in salads, for different spreading or for fresh juices. This year I made for the first time pesto. I grinded leaves and added a little salt and olive oil. I mixed well and put it into small jars. Take care to fill the jars to the top and coat with oil to prolong their shelf life. You can use pesto for pasta dressings, as a food supplement, etc. The best thing made from wild garlic is for my opinion soup. Creamy soup with wild garlic is soooo good. But you have to notice that a lot of healing properties get lost during cooking. 

Wild garlic soup

For soup you need:

- 3 spoons of butter

- half red onion

- 2 spoons flour

- soup cube

- two bunch of wild garlic

- 3 large potatoes

- sour cream

Boil together in water potatoes and wild garlic. You can tear wild garlic or you can leave whole because you will grind with a blender. Meanwhile, put the butter in the pan and chop onions, add two tablespoons of flour and pour the water in which you dissolved soup cube. When the potatoes are cooked grind together with wild garlic with a blender, add the roux and cook a little. Add the sour cream and sprinkle with roasted cubes of bread.

Healing properties:

Most of the healing properties contains fresh wild garlic.You can use him these days but you have to take care not to exaggerated because you may have more disadvantages than benefits (cause irritation of the gastrointestinal tract). Wild garlic should not consume pregnant women and nursing mothers. 

Medicinal properties:

- Regulates digestion

- Discharging the excess water from the body

- works as an antibiotic and can help fend off roundworms

- Purifies the blood, skin and respiratory system

- Prevents the formation of blood clots and internal bleeding

- Helps with respiratory problems and certain diseases associated with them, including asthma

- Cleanses the kidneys and bladder

- Improve the general well-being and banish the spring fatigue

- Revives (energize)

- Relaxes the muscles and strengthens the stomach

- Lowers and regulates blood pressure

- Lowers cholesterol

- Help reduce the heat

- A soothing effect on the nervous system

Do you also pick wild garlic and what you do with it?