In my childhood in Greece, stinging nettle pie (τσουκνιδόπιτα), a dish much like spinach pie, was a traditional recipe often prepared by grandmothers. Today, younger generations may not even recognize stinging nettle, though it once held a valued place in our culinary heritage.
My Bosnian grandmother used to collect stinging nettles from our garden and make burek with it. I remember that it was even more delicious than her spinach burek.
Similarly in Romania, though it is not a pie, "Mancare de Urzici" some kidn of mash, young nettles are boiled, puréed and cooked into a sort of spinach-like mash. I remember my grandmother preparing this quite often during the warm months.
Sounds a lot like "Stoemp", from Belgium. Spinach and carrot are classic, but any veggie works. Funny how very similar dishes can be found across the world under different names.
I think this is is still somewhat common, though it's definitely a home-only meal. You still find fresh nettles for sale in markets in Bucharest every spring. I for one hate the smell and taste, but my parents and grandma eat some every year.
same in Italy, it was common when I was younger my grandma made fritters with nettles, ground ham, breadcrumbs and eggs and we would eat them cold as a snack in the summer
