Morel & Farm Egg Tartine with Chive Blossoms
Elevate your morning toast with buttery foraged morels, farm-fresh eggs, and a scattering of chive blossoms—simple, seasonal perfection.
Ingredients:
1 cup fresh Morel mushrooms, cleaned and halved
2 thick slices pumpernickel bread
2 farm-fresh eggs
1 small clove garlic, minced
1 tablespoon butter
Olive oil, for drizzling
Sea salt and fresh ground black pepper, to taste
Chive blossoms, for garnish
Optional: lemon zest, for brightness
Method:
1. Heat the butter in a skillet over medium heat. Add the morels and garlic, and sauté for 5–7 minutes, until mushrooms are tender and golden. Season with salt and pepper.
2. While the mushrooms cook, toast the pumpernickel slices until warm and crisp. Drizzle lightly with olive oil.
3. In a separate nonstick pan, cook the eggs sunny-side up (or to your preferred doneness). Season with a pinch of salt.
4. Top each slice of toast with a generous layer of sautéed morels. Gently place a fried egg on top. Garnish with a scattering of chive blossoms and a touch of lemon zest if desired. Serve immediately, with a side of lightly dressed escarole or microgreens.
Roasted Asparagus with Fried Duck Eggs
This easy sheet pan dish is topped with bright lemon juice.
Ingredients:
1½ pounds asparagus, trimmed of tough stems
3 duck eggs
Juice of ½ lemon
Sea salt and fresh ground pepper
Method:
1. Cut the asparagus into 2-inch pieces. Put the oven rack in the center of the oven, about 5 inches below the heat source, and preheat the broiler.
2. Film the bottom of a large sauté pan with olive oil. Place the asparagus in the pan and season with salt and pepper, tossing to coat asparagus in oil. Spread out evenly and pop the pan in the oven under the broiler, cooking about 3 minutes or until the asparagus just starts to brown.
3. Being careful not to touch the pan’s handle, use the spatula to push the asparagus to the edges of the pan, leaving the center empty. Carefully break the eggs into that space. Broil 1 more minute, until egg whites are set. Remove the pan from the oven.
4. Squeeze the lemon juice over everything in the pan and give the pan another sprinkle of salt. To serve, top a generous helping of asparagus with a duck egg and serve with a side of toasted bread to sop up the excess yolk.
Variation: This dish is also lovely topped with a pat of fresh spring herb butter. To prepare combine, ¼ cup room temperature butter with 2 tablespoons of mixed, chopped herbs and a sprinkle of sea salt. Refrigerate until ready to use.
Garlic Scape Pesto
A bright, garlicky twist on classic pesto, this seasonal spread makes the most of fresh garlic scapes—perfect for tossing with pasta, spooning over grilled vegetables, or spreading on sandwiches.
Ingredients:
1 cup (about 8-10) chopped garlic scapes
1/3 cup toasted walnuts or pine nuts
½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
Juice of ½ lemon (more to taste)
½ cup olive oil (plus more as needed)
Sea salt and fresh ground pepper to taste
Method:
1. In a food processor or blender, pulse the garlic scapes and nuts until finely chopped. Add the Parmesan and lemon juice, and pulse again to combine. With the motor running, slowly stream in the olive oil until the mixture is smooth and spreadable. Add more oil if needed for a thinner consistency. Taste and season with salt, pepper, and more lemon juice if desired.
Fava Bean Dip
This simple, fresh dip enhances the inherent nutty flavor of fresh fava beans.
Ingredients:
2 pounds fresh fava beans, peeled, blanched and steamed (see method)
â…“ cup olive oil
2 tablespoons chopped fresh mint
1 clove of garlic, peeled
1 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
2 tablespoons ricotta cheese (or use this week’s herbed cream cheese!)
1 tablespoons Grana-style cheese, grated
Sea salt and fresh ground pepper
Method:
1. Combine the cooked beans with the olive oil, mint, garlic, lemon juice and both cheeses in a food processor and process until smooth. Season to taste with salt and pepper and process again until just combined.
2. Transfer dip to a small serving bowl and garnish with additional chopped mint. Serve at once.
Roasted Radishes with Brown Butter & Lemon
The sweet, nutty brown butter here lends a beautiful finishing touch.
Ingredients:
1 large bunch radishes
1½ tablespoons olive oil
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
Sea salt
Method:
- Preheat the oven to 450°. Brush a large heavy-duty rimmed baking sheet with olive oil. Cut off all but ½ inch of green radish tops; reserve trimmed tops and rinse them well, checking for grit. Coarsely chop radish tops and set aside. Cut radishes lengthwise in half and place in a medium bowl. Add 1½ tablespoons olive oil and toss thoroughly to coat. Place radishes, cut side down, on the prepared baking sheet; sprinkle lightly with coarse salt. Roast until radishes are crisp-tender, stirring occasionally, about 18 minutes. Season to taste with more coarse kosher salt, if desired.
- Melt butter in a heavy small skillet over medium-high heat. Add a pinch of coarse kosher salt to the skillet and cook until butter browns, swirling skillet frequently to keep butter solids from burning, about 3 minutes. Remove skillet from heat and stir in fresh lemon juice.
- Transfer roasted radishes to a serving bowl and drizzle brown butter over. Sprinkle with chopped radish tops and serve.
Grilled Turnips with Mint & Lime
The combination of mint and lime adds summery appeal to these tender-crisp grilled turnips.
Ingredients:
1 bunch Hakurei turnips, scrubbed and trimmed
¼ cup mint, minced
2 cloves garlic, smashed and minced
3 tablespoons olive oil
Juice of a small lime
Sea salt and fresh ground pepper
Method:
1. Preheat your grill. Set turnips on a plate and sprinkle with sea salt.
2. Set turnips directly on grill grate away from direct heat and cover. Cook for 5 minutes. Flip turnips and continue to cook, covered. Check after 4-5 minutes, continue turning and cooking until turnips are cooked through.
3. To prepare vinaigrette, whisk together mint, garlic, olive oil, lime juice, plus salt and pepper to taste. Toss with turnips and let sit for 10-15 minutes. Season again with salt and pepper as needed.
Spring Frittata with Mushrooms & Asparagus
This golden frittata folds tender morels, crisp spring veggies, and creamy eggs into one irresistible skillet meal perfect for brunch or a light supper.
Ingredients:
6–8 farm-fresh eggs
½ cup mixed jarred mushrooms
1 small bunch asparagus, trimmed and cut into 1-inch pieces
1 small bunch baby broccoli, chopped
1 small shallot, finely diced
2 tablespoons olive oil
¼ cup whole milk or cream
⅓ cup goat cheese or grated Gruyère (optional)
Sea salt and fresh ground pepper, to taste
Fresh herbs (chives, parsley, or tarragon), for garnish
Method:
1. Preheat the oven to 375°.
2. In a 10-inch oven-safe skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add shallots and cook until soft, about 2 minutes. Add mushrooms and cook until tender and golden, then stir in asparagus and baby broccoli. Cook for another 3–4 minutes until just tender. Season with salt and pepper.
3. In a bowl, whisk the eggs with milk or cream, and a pinch of salt. Stir in cheese if using. Pour the egg mixture over the vegetables in the skillet. Stir gently to combine, then let cook undisturbed for 2–3 minutes until the edges begin to set.
4. Transfer the skillet to the oven and bake for 10–12 minutes, or until the frittata is puffed and set in the center. Let cool slightly, then garnish with fresh herbs. Slice into wedges and serve warm or at room temperature.
Pickled Ramps
A lovely way to preserve and enjoy these rare spring ramps for weeks to come.
Ingredients:
8 ounces ramps
2 dried red chiles
2 bay leaves
2 teaspoons fennel seeds
1 teaspoon black peppercorns
1 cup white wine vinegar
½ cup sugar
1 tablespoon kosher salt
Method:
1. Trim greens from ramps; reserve for another use—like pesto! Pack bulbs into a heatproof 1-pint jar along with dried red chiles, bay leaves, fennel seeds and black peppercorns.
2. Bring white wine vinegar, sugar, salt, and 1 cup water to a boil in a medium saucepan, stirring to dissolve. Pour over ramps to cover. Seal jar. Let cool, then chill.
Buttermilk Ranch Potato Salad
Tossed with a plethora of fresh herbs including cilantro, dill and chives, this potato salad is incredibly fresh-tasting.
Ingredients:
3 pounds baby red potatoes, cut into 1-inch pieces
â…“ cup coarsely chopped fresh cilantro
â…“ cup coarsely chopped fresh chives
â…“ cup coarsely chopped fresh dill
¾ cup well-shaken buttermilk
½ cup plain Greek yogurt
â…“ cup mayonnaise
â…“ cup finely-chopped scallions (green parts only)
3 cloves garlic, finely chopped
1 teaspoon kosher salt, plus more as needed
Black pepper
Method:
1. Place 1½ to 2 inches of water in the bottom of a large pot. Place a steamer basket in the pot and add the cut potatoes to the basket. Bring the water to a boil over high heat and then reduce the heat to medium-high. Cover and steam the potatoes until knife-tender, stirring once or twice to ensure the potatoes in the center are evenly cooked, 25 to 30 minutes.
2. Transfer the potatoes to a large bowl. Let cool at least 30 minutes before dressing; the potatoes should be room temperature. Meanwhile, make the dressing.
3. Place the cilantro, dill, and chives in a medium bowl and stir to combine. Remove 3 tablespoons of the mixture to a small bowl and set aside for garnish.
4. Add the buttermilk, yogurt, mayonnaise, scallions, garlic and 1 teaspoon salt to the medium bowl of herbs. Season with pepper and whisk to combine. Refrigerate the dressing until the potatoes are ready.
5. Pour the buttermilk dressing onto the potatoes and fold it in gently until the potatoes are fully dressed. Taste and season with salt and pepper as needed. Transfer to a large serving bowl. Scatter the reserved herb mixture on top.
Butter-Braised Turnips
Simmered in rich chicken stock, this dish is finished with lemon juice and thyme for fresh appeal.
Ingredients:
1 pound turnips, green tops removed, washed and roughly chopped
1 tablespoons butter
1 tablespoon olive oil
2 peeled shallots
1 cup chicken stock
Juice from ½ lemon
3 tablespoons fresh thyme
Sea salt and fresh ground pepper
Method:
1. Wash and scrub the turnips, then cut into 1-inch-long pieces.
2. Heat butter and oil over medium-high heat in a large saucepan, then and add shallots and turnips. Sauté for about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally until the turnips begin to caramelize.
3. Add chicken stock, and a dash each of salt and pepper. Cover with a lid and turn heat down to low. Let simmer for another 5 minutes, or until stock has started to be absorbed by turnips. Add the turnip greens and simmer another 5 minutes, or until all the stock has been absorbed and the greens are wilted and tender. Add lemon juice and fresh thyme, then season to taste with more salt and pepper as needed. Serve warm.