Nepitella ✦

Calament (népita)

What it is

Roman cooks stuff carciofi alla romana with mentuccia and nothing else green, and no Tuscan cooks a mushroom without it — the plant is a calamint, cousin to both mint and savory and identical to neither. Ask for mentuccia in Rome and nepitella in Florence: one plant, two market names.

In the kitchen

Put it in at the start with the oil and garlic, not at the end. Unlike mint it wants heat, and thirty seconds in a hot pan is what opens up the oregano side of it.

Goes with

Artichoke Porcini Garlic Olive oil Pecorino Romano Chanterelle Lamb

In season alongside

Basil Cilantro / Coriander Garlic mustard Grayling Hoja santa Hojiso (shiso flower spikes)

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