The Addictive Game of Searching for Wild Asparagus on Lopud
Picking the wild asparagus (local word is šparoge) on Lopud could be described as a certain kind of traditional sport for people of all ages. It sounds easy but it isn’t. Finding something green surrounded by lots of other greens is a bit tricky. It’s really relaxing, but it’s also quite competitive.
Let’s cover the basics
Firstly, you want to find an area of the woods that no-one else has already figured out. If you’re like me and you miss 9 of 10 asparagus, that’s the best strategy. If you have an eye of an eagle, you can skip this first step. Secondly, you want to find the thickest and most juicy ones. These ones are usually on meadows surrounded by thick grass that keeps them protected. The ones you will find in the deep shadows of the woods usually don’t have enough sun to grow. You’ll find few growing high to reach the sun, but you will not pick many from one bush. On the other hand, those that grow on rocks under too much sun are usually short and dry. Thirdly, and most importantly, if you happen to see someone else picking the asparagus in your part of the woods, you want to be holding more in your hands than your competitor. It doesn’t matter that you actually need just 10 of them to have a nice dinner with eggs. It’s all about being better (wink-wink).
The addictive aspect of asparagus hunting
If you ever end up on Lopud during spring time and you decide to go into wild request of finding asparagus, let me warn you about one important thing. It’s addictive. I found myself thinking about them half of the day, searching for recipes for eating them the other half and then finally dreaming about picking them all night long. You’ll end up on a top of some high rock with no idea how to get down just because you saw a hint of asparagus up there. On the other hand, maybe it’s just me.
Its awesome to get your kids out in the nature
When I was a kid, I absolutely hated the way they tasted. My parens just boiled them and served them with some olive oil. What’s the fun in that? And they were green. Who eats green, right? But, nevertheless I loved the whole game of searching for them. It was like a video game. The only difference was my parents wouldn’t mind me playing all day. It was fun. There were no dangerous snakes on Lopud for them to worry about. And most importantly, I would come back home with tasty food.
Why wild asparagus is simply amazing
If you haven’t eaten wild asparagus before, you have to know one thing first. You will pee green. Yes, you read it right. You will pee green. I often forget this between seasons, so I start panicking and then I realise I had asparagus for lunch. But if we set that aside, asparagus are simply amazing. They are packed with essential vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. I’m not an expert on this, but you can read plenty of articles online. Here’s a good one.
Along with being healthy, they are sooo tasty. Just remember that, unlike with the ones you buy in a store, you can just use the soft upper part of young wild asparagus plant for cooking. You can eat them just the way they are, simply steamed or cooked in a soup (my favourite). You can eat them with eggs, make a nice risotto or roast them in oven. There are thousands of recipes online. All you have to do is go into the nature and pick some wild asparagus. If you ever end up on Lopud during springtime, don’t miss it! And let me know how it went.
Featured Author
Beti
Hi! I’m Beti, the daughter of the owners of Apartments Mihajlović. I’ll probably be the one you’ll talk to long before you get to the island, since I manage all the bookings. I’m happy to help you with any questions you might have.
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