The air’s getting warmer, the trees are waking up, and the ground is starting to smell like life again. You know what that means? Wild garlic season is just around the corner.
If you’ve never cooked with wild garlic, you’re in for a treat. This isn’t the dried, powdered stuff from your spice rack. It’s fresh, fragrant, and bursting with flavor—like the forest’s own secret ingredient.
Let’s talk about how to find it, how to use it, and why it deserves a spot in your next outdoor meal.
What Is Wild Garlic, Exactly?
Also known as ramsons, bear’s garlic, or allium ursinum (if you want to get fancy), wild garlic grows in shady, damp woodlands and has a strong, garlicky scent that’s impossible to miss once you know it.
You’ll recognize it by:
🌿 Long, smooth green leaves
🌼 Small white star-shaped flowers (later in the season)
🧄 That unmistakable garlicky smell when you rub the leaf between your fingers
It’s foraged in spring—usually from March through May depending on where you are.
How to Forage It (Without Being That Guy)
Foraging is simple, but you’ve got to do it right:
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Only take what you need. A handful goes a long way.
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Snip, don’t pull. Use scissors or a knife to cut the leaves. That way the plant keeps growing.
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Know what you’re picking. Wild garlic is safe and delicious—but some plants that look similar (like lily of the valley) are not. If it doesn’t smell like garlic, leave it.
Pro tip: Pack your MWTP Special Edition Cleaver or any solid blade with a sheath—it’s perfect for trimming herbs in the field and chopping them up back at camp.
Cooking with Wild Garlic (It’s Easier Than You Think)
Wild garlic is so versatile. Use it anywhere you’d use spinach or fresh herbs, and it adds that lovely punch of garlic flavor without the bite of raw cloves.
A few easy ways to use it:
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Toss it into your cast iron skillet with sizzling butter and mushrooms
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Mix it into scrambled eggs or omelettes for a fresh, springy twist
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Chop it into wild garlic butter (spread that on fresh bread over the fire… you’ll thank us later)
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Stir it into soups or stews at the end for a fresh herbal hit
🔥 Want to go all-in? Make a wild garlic pesto and drizzle it over grilled meat or fire-cooked potatoes. Absolute forest gold.
Why We Love It (Besides the Flavor)
Wild garlic reminds us of what outdoor cooking is all about—slowing down, noticing what’s around you, and letting nature be part of the meal.
It’s not just about what you cook—it’s how you cook it, where you cook it, and what’s in season.
And when the forest starts handing out ingredients for free? You grab a basket and get cooking.
As spring rolls in and the campfires start crackling again, don’t sleep on wild garlic. It’s easy to find, simple to use, and guaranteed to bring bold, fresh flavor to your campfire meals.
So grab your knife, your skillet, and your appetite—the forest pantry just opened for the season.
🌿 Explore knives, cast iron, and rustic gear at Men With The Pot and make your next meal as fresh as the season itself.
