May
14

Stamnaggathi

Ivy on May 14th, 2009

Stamnaggathi are wild greens, with a mildly bitter taste but simultaneously having a touch of sweetness which does not resemble to any other wild greens and is a must for a healthy style cuisine.   During the past years these greens are becoming very popular in all Greek gourmet restaurants and you can rarely find them in other cheaper restaurants, except in Crete, probably because of its price.
It’s scientific name is Cichorium Spinosum and belongs to the same species of wild chicories (endives).  It is rich in antioxidants, omega-3 fats as well as many other nutrients, which promote good health.
It’s characteristic is that at the end of Spring it is green and tender but still it is a very tedious work for people to collect these greens, hence the expensive price which ranges between 12 to 15 Euros a kilo.  This year, its price was much lower, maybe because we had a lot of rain and it grew abundantly.   Later on during summer the thorns are so prickly that even goats will not approach anywhere near it.
Stamnaggathi is a compound word, from stamna, which is an earthen vessel in which they would transport and store water from fountains or wells and aggathi means thorn (spinosum).   They would put this thorny plant to seal the opening of the vessel and thus prevent any insects from getting inside.
Dioskourides has an extensive mention of this herb and characterizes it as a medicine for many treatments and recommends a lot of ways to use it, mainly for its antiseptic and antirheumatic properties.
This herb which  grows only in Crete can be found mainly at Omalos plateau but other species can also be found closer to the sea (gialoradika).
After the German invasion and occupation of Crete, during World War II, scientists were astonished when  in other parts of Greece where people died of hunger, in Crete although their livestock and produce were confiscated as well by the Germans, all Cretans were in excellent health.  Scientists discovered that the Cretans survived mainly by eating wild greens, snails and occasionally game or fish, everything generously found in nature.

Antonia Trichopoulou, professor of public health at the University of Athens, has calculated the various nutrients in seventeen different greens which are cooked in the Cretan greens pie and found that they fulfill all the daily requirements for vitamins, minerals and trace elements.

This specific herb can be cooked, with lamb or goat or it can be eaten as a raw salad, or boiled and eaten in both cases with extra virgin olive oil and lemon or vinegar.

I am giving you the classic way of boiling these wild greens as well as a salad I have created.  The greens should be boiled only with enough water to cover them and no salt should be added to the boiling water.  Although the water is removed from most of the boiled greens after boiling, here some water is added before serving.   After boiling, a lot of people do not discard the water but keep it and drink it.

Stamnaggathi Salata (Stamnaggathi Salad) - Cretan Recipe

Cooking time: 10 minutes

Serves: 4

Ingredients:

1

Kilo

Stamnaggathi

Water enough to cover the greens

For the dressing:

5

tbsps

Water in which it has boiled

2

Tbsp

Extra virgin Olive Oil

2 - 3

Tbsp

Lemon juice (or vinegar)

Salt (optional)

This recipe goes to Sowmya, of  Creative Saga who is hosting the event Cooking with Greens.


Before boiling the greens I reserved some stamnaggathi to make this salad the next day and the addition of rocket is optional and I just added it because I had some at home.   I made the salad dressing following my instinct on what would compliment these bitter greens and I just went along tasting and adding until I had the right taste.  Instead of pomegranate molasses you can add only honey if you like.  My intention was to use only pomegranate molasses but it still needed something more sweet in the dressing, so I added the honey as well.  I made this salad at the beginning of April when the strawberries were not so sweet, so the amount of honey will depend on how sweet the strawberries are.  The combination of the strawberries and honey with the bitter greens was an excellent match.

Stamnaggathi Salata me fraoules (Stamnaggathi, strawberries and cashew Salad) – Recipe by Ivy

Preparation: 10 minutes

Serves: 4

Ingredients:

150

Grams

Stamnaggathi

150

Grams

Rocket

10

strawberries

½

cup

cashews

Strawberry vinaigrette:

2

Tbsps

Olive oil

1

tsp

Balsamic vinegar

1+ 1

tsp

Pomegranate molasses and honey

1

Clove

Garlic

5

strawberries

Salt and pepper

Directions

1.

Wash the greens thoroughly as well as the strawberries and place in a colander to drain.

2.

Place stamnaggathi, rocket and strawberries in a salad bowl.

3.

In the food processor add the salad dressing ingredients and process.

4.

Drizzle on top of the salad and toss. .

5.

Add the remaining strawberries and scatter the cashews on top.

This recipe goes to Lisa and Holler, for their event No Croutons Required, Berries.

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21 Responses to “Stamnaggathi”

  1. aruna
    May 14th, 2009 at 9:18 pm

    awesome presentation, nice clicks!!

  2. Lisa
    May 14th, 2009 at 9:23 pm

    Never heard of these greens, but they sure sound good. Thanks so much for this entry Ivy. It’s the first salad we have received. All the other entries have been soups so far!

  3. Rosa
    May 14th, 2009 at 9:33 pm

    An amazing salade It looks so tempting and delicious! Really unusual…

    Cheers,

    Rosa xoxo

  4. Ramya vijaykumar
    May 14th, 2009 at 11:48 pm

    Stamnaggathi is new to me!!! wow looks yummy and greens seems like a healthy dish!!! tempting me!!!

    Ramya vijaykumar’s last blog post..Khandvi

  5. Cakelaw
    May 15th, 2009 at 12:21 am

    I have never seen or hearrd of these wild greens before, but they arecertainly interesting. Love the addition of the strawberries to the salad.

  6. Poornima
    May 15th, 2009 at 12:30 am

    Never heard of this one before…the salad looks delicious and really tempting…

  7. sowmya
    May 15th, 2009 at 2:28 am

    this is something totally new to me and thanks for the info about it too…Salad looks really good and delicious..Thanks for your participation in the event.

    sowmya’s last blog post..Coffee Walnut Cake

  8. rachel
    May 15th, 2009 at 5:16 am

    I can hardly pronounce the name :)

  9. Angie's Recipes
    May 15th, 2009 at 11:34 am

    First sight on the cooked one thought it’s Watercress, but the raw one looks totally different. I would stir-fry them with garlic…….:-)

    Angie’s Recipes’s last blog post..Diced Chicken And Carrots In Sweet Fermented Flour Paste

  10. Joan Nova
    May 15th, 2009 at 1:58 pm

    New to me, too, and I can’t pronounce the name! You did a thorough job of introducing it to us.

  11. Hopie
    May 15th, 2009 at 2:50 pm

    What an original and interesting recipe. I’ve never heard of these greens but it’s always fun to discover!

  12. anudivya
    May 15th, 2009 at 6:25 pm

    I learnt something today Ivy. Never seen these greens ever before in my life and I don’t think we get it here either. Looks gorgeous.

    anudivya’s last blog post..Lite Coconut Milk - Mint Pulao

  13. Rosie
    May 15th, 2009 at 6:38 pm

    Very new to me too Ivy and thanks for introducing it to us. We never stop learning new things.

    Rosie x

    Rosie’s last blog post..You Say Whoppers I Say Maltesers!

  14. Simona
    May 15th, 2009 at 8:56 pm

    Such an interesting post, Ivy. My mother and my aunt would gather edible plants that grew wild and then cook them or serve them as salad. I wish I had learned to recognize them! Chicory was one and I remember its bitter flavor, which I learned to appreciate. Nice combination with strawberries and nuts.

    Simona’s last blog post..gnocchi di ricotta

  15. Lisa Henderson
    May 15th, 2009 at 10:42 pm

    This is new to me as well but it does sound very interesting.

  16. Dharm
    May 16th, 2009 at 5:28 pm

    Amazing salad although I have never heard of seen this before. All very new to me and that is what makes it even more special!!

  17. elly
    May 17th, 2009 at 2:23 am

    I don’t think I’ve ever eaten these greens, Ivy. Thanks for the lesson and the great looking dish!

    elly’s last blog post..Coq au Riesling

  18. Peter
    May 18th, 2009 at 3:10 am

    Ahhhm, the strawberries give a little relief to the bitter greens and I suppose the strawberries are just in season there. 12 Euros a kilo? Yikes!

  19. brii
    May 23rd, 2009 at 5:28 pm

    ciaooo ivy!
    this is very interesting..
    I try to look it up, and discovered that your greek cichorium might grow in sardinia..
    here we have only the common one, cichorium intybus..with soft leaves.
    well…I could try with them, could I? :))
    have a nice week end, dear
    baciusss

    brii’s last blog post..WHB# 183 - Blossom Sugar

  20. burak
    January 15th, 2010 at 1:31 pm

    i want to eat Stamnaggathi and i hope i can do it :)

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