Roasted Leeks
Seasoned with salt and pepper, these leeks make for a satisfying side.
Ingredients:
4 leeks, trimmed and sliced lengthwise
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
½ cup vegetable or chicken broth
Sea salt and fresh ground pepper
Method:
1. Preheat the oven to 400°.
2. In oiled roasting pan with sides, brush leeks with oil. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Roast leeks until tender, about 35 to 45 minutes. While roasting, drizzle leeks with broth a few times to keep them moist.
3. Remove from oven and serve immediately.
Frizzled Leeks
These crispy leeks are a wonderful garnish for salads, soups or main dish proteins like beef, pork or salmon.
Ingredients:
1 medium leek, trimmed of roots and dark green tops
2 cups neutral-flavored oil, such as peanut, vegetable or canola
Sea salt
Method:
1. Thinly slice the white and light green parts of the leek into 3-inch-long julienne strips. Rinse in a bowl of water to remove the grit, drain and pat dry.
2. In a small saucepan heat the oil over medium-high heat (it should reach a depth of about 1 inch) it reaches 325º and 350º on a candy thermometer. Reduce the heat to medium or medium-low to hold the oil in this temperature range. Add a small handful of the leeks to the oil.
3. Fry the leeks in batches, stirring often with a metal slotted spoon, until the oil is barely bubbling and the leeks are light golden brown, 1-3 minutes. (The oil temperature will drop when you add the leeks; let it return to the starting temperature before frying the next batch.)
4. Lift the leeks from the oil using the slotted spoon, tap against the side of the pan to drain off excess oil, and transfer to a large plate lined with paper towels.
5. Sprinkle the leeks lightly with salt while they are still hot. Let cool to room temperature before using as a garnish.
Pink Peppercorn Dressing
This bright, zippy dressing from our friend chef Nicco Muratore is lovely tossed with winter chicories.
Ingredients:
2 teaspoons pink peppercorns, ground
4 sprigs parsley, stems removed and lightly chopped
1 garlic clove
1 orange, zested
1 lemon, zested and juiced
2 teaspoons Dijon or whole grain mustard
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
2 tablespoons tangerine vinegar*
1 cup olive oil
Method:
1. Using an immersion blender, blend all the ingredients except for the olive oil. Slowly drizzle in the olive oil to create a thickened dressing, blend on medium speed once combined, and taste for salt and acid! The dressing will keep in the refrigerator for up to a month.Â
*You can substitute apple cider vinegar, Champagne vinegar, or white wine vinegar, as needed.
Crispy Egg Tostadas with Black Beans, Salsa & Cotija
These crispy egg tostadas are a vegetarian win for game day: crunchy, saucy, and gone before halftime.
Ingredients:
1 cup dried Steel Wheel Farm black beans, soaked overnight or 2½ cups cooked black beans
2 tablespoons olive oil, divided
1 small red onion, finely diced
1 clove garlic, minced
½ teaspoon ground cumin
Kosher salt, to taste
1–2 limes, juiced
DeCasa blue corn tortilla chips (about 8–10 sturdy chips)
8 farm-fresh eggs
Skagit’s Best salsa, for serving
Familia del Norte cotija cheese, finely grated
Fresh cilantro leaves, chopped
Freshly ground black pepper
Method:
1. If using dried beans, drain the soaking water and simmer in fresh salted water until tender, about 60–75 minutes. Drain, reserving a little cooking liquid.
2. Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add the red onion and cook until soft, about 5 minutes. Stir in garlic and cumin and cook until fragrant, 30 seconds. Add cooked black beans and a splash of bean liquid or water. Lightly mash until creamy but still textured. Season with salt and lime juice. Keep warm.
3. Preheat the oven to 375°. Arrange tortilla chips on a baking sheet and warm for 5–7 minutes until crisp and hot.
4. Heat remaining olive oil in a nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Crack in eggs and cook until whites are set and edges are crispy, but yolks remain jammy (sunny-side or over-easy). Season with salt and pepper.
5. Spread warm black beans over each chip. Top with a fried egg, a spoonful of salsa, grated Cotija, and chopped cilantro. Finish with an extra squeeze of lime.
Roasted Romanesco with Green Garlic & Citrus
A simple way to let this beautiful vegetable shine. If you’ve never cooked romanesco before, treat it like cauliflower—but expect a slightly sweeter, nuttier flavor.
Ingredients:
1 head romanesco, cut into florets
2 tablespoons olive oil
Sea salt and freshly ground pepper
1–2 stalks green garlic, thinly sliced (white and light green parts)
Zest of ½ orange or lemon
Juice of ½ orange or lemon
Optional: shaved Parmesan, toasted walnuts, or a handful of chopped parsley
Method:
1. Preheat the oven to 425°. Toss romanesco florets with olive oil, salt, and pepper. Spread in a single layer on a baking sheet.
2. Roast 20–25 minutes, until tender and caramelized at the edges.
3. While still warm, gently toss with sliced green garlic, citrus zest, and a squeeze of juice. Finish with Parmesan or nuts if desired.
Radicchio, Citrus & Warm Squash Salad with Green Garlic Salad Dressing
This one softens radicchio’s edge by pairing it with sweet roasted squash and juicy citrus. It feels winter-to-spring transitional—which is exactly where we are.
Ingredients:
1–2 heads mixed radicchio, torn into bite-size pieces
1 cup roasted winter squash cubes (warm or room temp)
1 Cara Cara orange, peeled and segmented
¼ small red onion, very thinly sliced (optional)
2 tablespoons toasted walnuts (optional but lovely)
Green Garlic Salad Dressing (see recipe)
Method:
1. Add ¼ cup of the Green Garlic Salad Dressing to the base of a large mixing bowl.
2. Add radicchio and gently toss to lightly coat. Fold in warm squash, orange segments and red onion.
3. Finish with toasted walnuts and a crack of black pepper. Drizzle with additional dressing, as desired.
Crushed Tangerine & Rosemary Mocktail
Featuring Kosterina Crushed Tangerine Vinegar & fresh rosemary this mocktail is crisp and refreshing.
For the Mocktail:
2 ounces of Kosterina Tangerine Crushed Fruit Vinegar
1 ounce of Fresh Lemon Juice
1 ounce of Rosemary Simple Syrup
Seltzer
Rosemary Sprig for garnish
Orange Slice for garnish
For the Rosemary Simple Syrup:
â…“ Cup Water
½ Cup Sugar
2 Rosemary Sprigs
- Make Rosemary simple syrup but adding water, sugar, and rosemary to a sauce pan on medium heat. Bring to a boil and stir until sugar is melted. Simmer for about 5 minutes. Remove from heat and move to the fridge to chill.
- In a glass filled with ice, combine Kosterina Tangerine Crushed Fruit Vinegar, Rosemary Simple Syrup, and Lemon Juice. Top with Seltzer and stir. Garnish with Orange Slice and Rosemary Sprig.
Bratwurst with Braised Sauerkraut & Potatoes
This inviting main dish is incredibly flavorful, simmered with luscious sauerkraut and boiled potatoes.
Ingredients:
Skagit River Ranch bratwurst links
12 small potatoes
3 cups sauerkraut, drained
1 onion, peeled and thinly sliced
1 tablespoon butter
½ cup dry white wine
1 cup chicken stock or water
1 tablespoon white wine vinegar
Sea salt and fresh ground pepper
Method:
1. Soften the onions and butter in a heavy oven-proof pan, browning the onions lightly. Add the sauerkraut, wine, stock, salt and pepper. Bring to boil, turn down, cover and simmer, stirring occasionally, for 15 minutes. Then add the potatoes to the sauerkraut mixture and cook, covered, for 15-20 minutes or until potatoes are barely tender.
2. Meanwhile, in another skillet, simmer the bratwurst in 1-2-inches of water to cover for 20 minutes. Then drain off the water from the skillet and continue cooking just long enough to brown the bratwurst lightly.
3. Place the bratwurst in with the sauerkraut and potatoes and put in the oven at 375° for 15-20 minutes covered.
4. To serve, pile the sauerkraut and potatoes on a heated platter and arrange the bratwurst over the top. Serve with mustard and red cabbage slaw on the side.
Lemon-Garlic Kale Salad
Tossed with a sweet-tart citrus dressing, this salad is fresh and bright and pairs nicely with just about any main dish.
Ingredients:
1 large bunch Lacinato kale, greens removed from thick stems, washed and patted dry
1 cup slivered almonds
â…“ cup lemon juice
1½ cups olive oil
4 garlic cloves, peeled and left whole
Sea salt
Method:
1. In a small skillet, toast almonds until golden brown and fragrant. Set aside to cool.
2. In a bowl, combine the lemon juice and 1 heaping teaspoon salt. Slowly whisk in the olive oil. Using the flat side of a knife, crush the garlic cloves and add to the dressing, setting aside to steep.
3. Working in batches, cut the kale into thin ribbons and place in a large bowl. Sprinkle with the almonds. Remove and discard garlic cloves from dressing. Pour half the dressing over the salad and toss. Taste for both dressing and salt, adding more as needed. Serve within 1 hour.
Radicchio, Cara Cara Orange & Chèvre Breakfast Salad
Bright, lightly bitter radicchio meets sweet Cara Cara oranges, creamy chèvre, and crunchy granola for a brunch salad that cuts beautifully through richer dishes.Â
Ingredients:
1 head mixed radicchio, torn into bite-sized pieces
2 Cara Cara oranges, peeled and segmented
¼ small red onion, very thinly sliced
½ cup Bellsong Creamery chèvre, crumbled
¼ cup Carnation Farms Toasted Coconut Granola
1 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves
Honey-Citrus Dressing:
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 tablespoon fresh orange juice
1 teaspoon wildflower honey
1 teaspoon raspberry vinegar (optional, for brightness)
Pinch of sea salt
Method:
1. To make the dressing, whisk together olive oil, orange juice, honey, vinegar (if using), and salt until emulsified.
2. In a large bowl, gently toss radicchio, orange segments, and red onion with just enough dressing to lightly coat.
3. Transfer to a serving platter and scatter chèvre, granola, and thyme over the top.