Wild Ramp-Lemon Risotto with Morel Mushrooms
This bright risotto showcases beautiful spring ramps and foraged Morel mushrooms.
Ingredients:
1 quart F&L chicken stock
3 tablespoons unsalted butter, divided
1 cup sliced ramps, thoroughly cleaned and the white and green parts divided
1 cup Arborio rice
1 cup Morel mushrooms, sautéed lightly in butter
¼ cup dry white wine
Juice and zest of 1 lemon
½-¾ cup Grana-style cheese, for grating
Sea salt and fresh black pepper
Method:
1. In a saucepan, bring the chicken stock to a boil and then turn down to a simmer to keep hot.
2. In another large sauce pan over medium low heat, add one tablespoon butter and the sliced white portion of the ramps and sweat for two minutes. Turn the heat up and add the Arborio rice, stir for about one minute. Next, add the dry white wine to the rice and cook until it has completely evaporated, then add a ladleful of stock to the rice and continue stirring until almost absorbed.
3. Add another ladleful of stock and continue stirring. Repeat until all the stock is gone and the rice is creamy and tender.
4. Stir in the remaining butter, lemon juice, lemon zest. Stir in the ramp greens and mushrooms and season with salt and pepper. Finally, grate cheese into the risotto and gently give the risotto one or two stirs to incorporate. Serve immediately.
Pappardelle Pasta with Italian Sausage & Kale
Everyone will be asking for seconds of this extremely satisfying dish.
Ingredients:
1 pound fresh pasta of your choice, such as this week’s pappardelle
1 sweet onion, peeled and diced
4 cloves garlic, finely minced
1 bunch Lacinato kale, greens removed from tough rib ends and then roughly chopped
4 tablespoons freshly-chopped herbs, such as a combination of oregano, parsley and thyme
2 tablespoons olive oil, plus an additional tablespoon for finishing
Grana-style cheese, grated
Sea salt and fresh ground pepper
Method:
1. Cook the pasta for 5-7 minutes in a pot of heavily salted water until al dente, or just cooked through with a bit of bite left. Reserve about ½ cup of the pasta water, then drain, and set aside.
2. Meanwhile, slice the Italian sausage links into bite-sized rounds and cook in a large skillet over medium-high heat until cooked through and no longer pink on the inside. Remove the sausage to a plate and set aside.
3. Wipe any excess grease from the skillet with a paper towel, then drizzle in 2 tablespoons olive oil and heat over medium-high heat. Add in the onion and garlic and sauté until tender, about 4-5 minutes. Add in the chopped kale and continue to sauté, stirring until the kale is just wilted.
3. Add the pasta and sausage into the skillet and toss to combine with the kale mixture; season with salt and pepper as necessary. Add in the herbs and toss once more; if the pasta seems a little dry, moisten with the reserved pasta water. Finish by sprinkling each serving with grated Grana-style cheese and an additional swirl of olive oil.
Chorizo Scramble
Or, try breakfast burritos this week: Just whip up this spicy scramble and serve it in tortillas with cheese and pico de gallo on top!
Ingredients:
8 eggs
8 ounces chorizo sausage
¼ cup milk
½ cup chopped leeks, white and light green parts only
½ sweet onion, peeled and diced
1 tablespoon butter or olive oil
1 tablespoon freshly-chopped parsley
Sea salt and fresh ground pepper
Method:
1. Heat the butter or oil in a frying pan over medium heat. Add the chorizo sausage and cook through, breaking the sausage into small chunks with a wooden spoon. Then, add the spring onions and leeks and cook, stirring constantly, for an additional 2-3 minute, until both are softened and fragrant.
2. Crack eggs and break over a shallow bowl. Break yolks with a whisk or fork, then whisk together with the milk, seasoning generously with salt and pepper. Add eggs to the frying pan and mix with the chorizo and vegetables.
3. Cook, stirring occasionally until eggs are set and no longer runny. Gently mix in the freshly-chopped parsley and serve immediately.
Spring Greens with Butter-Poached Radishes
This earthy salad is beautiful topped with buttery radishes.
Ingredients:
1 bunch Pink Beauty radishes, tops removed
4-6 cups mixed spring greens, such as washed and chopped Little Gem and Tom Thumb lettuces
2 tablespoons butter
2 garlic cloves, minced
Pinch fine sea salt
2 teaspoons apple cider vinegar
2 teaspoons honey
Method:
1. Slice the radishes in half lengthwise.
2. Melt the butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the garlic and sauté until fragrant, about 1 minute. Then add the radishes, cut side down, and a pinch of salt, and sauté for about 10 minutes, until they are slightly translucent and tender, but not mushy.
3. Drizzle the vinegar over the radishes and toss quickly to incorporate. Remove from the heat and drizzle the honey over the top; toss to coat.
4. To serve, make a bed of greens on each plate, arrange a portion of the radish halves on top, and pour the pan drippings over the top to dress the salad.
Grilled Apricots with Almond Whipped Cream
Drizzled with honey and topped with toasted almonds, these apricots are simply stunning for dessert.
Ingredients:
4 apricots, halved
1 teaspoon melted butter
3 teaspoons honey, divided
2 tablespoons sliced almonds, toasted
â…“ cup whipping cream
½ teaspoon almond extract
1 ½ tablespoons powdered sugar
Method:
1. Heat a grill or grill pan over medium high heat.
2. In a small dish whisk together the melted butter and a teaspoon of honey. Cut the apricots in half and brush the melted honey butter on the cut side.
3. Place the apricots cut side down onto the heated grill pan. Grill the apricots for about 2 minutes until softened and just slightly charred, and then remove and place them cut side up onto a plate.
4. Using a stand mixer with the whisk attachment or a hand mixer, add the whipping cream, almond extract, and powdered sugar and beat the whipped cream until stiff peaks form.
5. To serve, spoon about a tablespoon of the whipped cream on top of each apricot half, then sprinkle on the sliced almonds and drizzle on the remaining 2 teaspoons of honey.
Avocado-Radish Slaw
This creamy-yet-crunchy slaw would be fantastic layered into your taco this week.
Ingredients:
½ bunch radishes, washed and trimmed of green tops, a thinly sliced into matchsticks
1 medium, ripe avocado, pitted
¼ cup water
1 lime, juiced
½ cup cilantro leaves
Sea salt and pepper
Method:
1. In a blender, mix the avocado, water, lime juice, cilantro and a healthy pinch of salt. Blend until completely smooth, adding more water as needed to achieve the consistency of a pourable dressing.
2. Add the radishes to a bowl, and toss with dressing. Season with salt and pepper, and an extra squeeze of lime, as needed. Set aside until ready to use.
Red Radish Spread with Fresh Herbs
This cool, creamy spread is wonderful slathered atop slices of bread for a starter or a mid-afternoon snack.
Ingredients:
1 bunch radishes
3 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
2 tablespoons fresh dill, chopped
1 tablespoon fresh chives, chopped
1 8-ounce block cream cheese, at room temperature
3 tablespoons crème fraîche
Zest of 1 lemon
Cracked black pepper
Flaked sea salt
Rustic bread, sliced
Method:
1. Clean, trim, and thinly slice the radishes. Place in a bowl and add the parsley, dill, and chives.
2. In another bowl, combine the softened cream cheese with the lemon zest, pepper, and crème fraîche or sour cream. Mix well.
3. Add the radish-herb mixture to the creamy spread and gently combine. Spread on toasted bread slices and garnish with sea salt and serve.
Stir-Fried Spring Vegetables with Chile, Garlic & Ginger
Serve this colorful stir-fry alongside potstickers and steamed rice for an easy dinner.
Ingredients:
1 pound baby bok choy, cored and roughly chopped
½ pound mushrooms, such as Cinnamon Cap, washed and trimmed
1 cup thinly-sliced radishes
2-3 scallions, trimmed of root ends and chopped
1 leek, trimmed of root and tough green ends, and chopped
2 tablespoons vegetable or safflower oil
1 red or green jalapeño, thinly sliced (remove ribs and seeds for less heat)
4 garlic cloves, thinly sliced
1 2-inch piece of fresh ginger, peeled and thinly sliced
6 tablespoons water
Soy sauce
Method:
1. Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Cook the jalapeño, garlic and ginger, stirring frequently, until softened about 1 minute.
2. Add the baby bok choy, mushrooms, radishes, leek and scallions, then the water; cover and cook until vegetables are tender, 2-3 minutes. Uncover and sauté until any remaining liquid evaporates.
3. Splash vegetables with soy sauce to taste and serve.
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.
Cinnamon Cap Mushroom & Ricotta Crostini
This elegant little starter is a beautiful showcase for this week’s Cinnamon Cap mushrooms.
Ingredients:
Extra-virgin olive oil
3 ounces Cinnamon Cap mushrooms, wiped clean and trimmed
1 clove of garlic, peeled and finely chopped
2 miniature sweet red peppers, seeded and sliced
4 tablespoons ricotta, drained
A few sprouts of chives, or other combination of fresh herbs, such as parsley or lovage, snipped
Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
4 slices Italian Rustica bread
Method:
1. Set a heavy frying pan, big enough to hold all the mushrooms in one layer, over medium high heat and add a tablespoon of extra virgin olive oil. Add the garlic and shake the pan to coat the garlic and keep it from sticking, cooking until fragrant, about 1-2 minutes. Add mushrooms and peppers, salt and pepper and fry gently for a few minutes until peppers have softened and mushrooms are golden.
2. Meanwhile, drizzle the bread slices with a bit of olive oil and toast under the broiler on both sides. When toasted, divide ricotta and sautéed vegetables between the slices. Sprinkle with the snipped herbs and serve immediately.