Cherry Tomato Salsa with Fresh Herbs
A pico de gallo-style salsa bright in flavor and combined with spring onions and mint.
Ingredients:
1 pint heirloom cherry tomatoes, washed and cut in half
2-3 spring onions, trimmed and finely diced
½-1 jalapeño pepper, depending on taste, seeds removed and finely chopped
¼ cup fresh cilantro, chopped
2 tablespoons fresh mint, chopped
Juice of 1 lime
Sea salt
Method:
1. Combine tomatoes, onion, and jalapeno pepper in a medium bowl. Add herbs, then drizzle lime juice over the salsa. Season generously with sea salt, to taste. Allow to sit 10-20 minutes on the countertop for flavors to fully combine.
Blistered Shishito Peppers
These flavorful peppers make for a wonderful pre-dinner nibble!
8 ounces (3 heaping cups) Shishito peppers
2 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil or avocado oil
Lemon wedge, optional
Flaky sea salt or kosher salt, to taste
Method:
1. Rinse and pat the peppers dry on a clean tea towel. Transfer the peppers to a medium bowl, drizzle in the oil, and toss until the peppers are evenly coated. Set aside.
2. Preheat a medium skillet over medium heat until it’s hot enough that a drop of water sizzles and evaporates quickly on contact. Add the peppers and let them cook, stirring every minute or so (not too often), until they are tender with charred spots, about 8 to 12 minutes.
3. Transfer the peppers to a serving plate. Spritz with a lemon wedge, if desired. Sprinkle with salt, to taste (don’t skimp). Serve with a little bowl on the side for the pepper stems.
Apricot Cobbler
This classic apricot cobbler combines sweet, sun-ripened fruit with a buttery, golden topping for a simple summer dessert that’s best served warm with a scoop of ice cream.
Ingredients:
Filling:
6 cups fresh apricots (about 2½–3 lbs), pitted and sliced
½ cup granulated sugar
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 tablespoon cornstarch
½ teaspoon vanilla extract
Pinch of salt
Topping:
1 cup all-purpose flour
¼ cup granulated sugar
¼ cup brown sugar
1½ teaspoons baking powder
¼ teaspoon salt
½ cup unsalted butter, cold and cut into cubes
½ cup whole milk (or buttermilk for a slight tang)
Method:
1. Preheat the oven to 375°F. In a large bowl, combine the sliced apricots, sugar, lemon juice, cornstarch, vanilla, and a pinch of salt. Toss gently to coat. Pour into a 9×13-inch baking dish or similar-sized casserole.
2. In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, sugars, baking powder, and salt. Cut in the cold butter using a pastry blender or your fingertips until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Pour in the milk and stir just until combined; the dough will be thick and slightly sticky.
3. Drop spoonfuls of the topping evenly over the fruit. It doesn’t need to cover it completely—leave some gaps for the fruit to bubble through. Bake for 35–40 minutes, or until the topping is golden brown and the fruit is bubbling. Cool slightly before serving warm, ideally with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or a dollop of whipped cream.
Grilled Cherry Salsa
This flavorful salsa is excellent on top of pork tenderloin, or served with crackers and whipped ricotta!
Ingredients:
1½ cups cherries, pitted
1 tablespoon olive oil
½ cup diced shallot
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 tablespoon cider vinegar
2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro
Method:
1. Heat the grill to high.
2. In a medium bowl, toss the cherries with oil until well coated. Carefully place the cherries onto the grill grates (or use a grilling basket) and grill until lightly charred in spots and tender, about 2 to 3 minutes. Use tongs to return the cherries to the bowl. Set aside to cool slightly.
3. Once the cherries have cooled, add the onion, garlic, vinegar and cilantro. Mix well, then season with salt and pepper.
Bok Choy with Garlic & Ginger
Fresh ginger and fragrant garlic lend big flavor to sautéed bok choy greens.
Ingredients:
1 bunch bok choy
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 clove garlic
1 tablespoon fresh grated ginger
â…› cup dry white wine
Sea salt and fresh ground pepper
Method:
1. Start by trimming the stem off, just the end, to ensure that the bok choy cooks evenly. Separate out the leaves, keep the tender center intact and clean under running water. Drain.
2. Finely mince garlic. Heat olive oil in wok or frying pan. Add garlic and ginger to heated pan.
3. Turn the heat to medium-high. Let the ginger and garlic gently sizzle in the oil. When the aromatics become fragrant and light golden brown, add the bok choy leaves.
4. Toss very well to coat each leaf with the flavored oil for approximately 15 seconds. Pour in broth, water or wine. Immediately cover and let cook for 1 minute. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
Grilled Fennel
A wonderful side for roasted chicken or steak.
Ingredients:
4 medium fennel bulbs, thick outermost layers peeled, and then sliced lengthwise about ½ inch thick
3 tablespoons olive oil
Sea salt and fresh ground pepper
Method:
1. Prepare a grill for medium-high heat. Toss fennel on a rimmed baking sheet with oil; season with salt and pepper.
2. Grill fennel until lightly charred, about 4 minutes per side.
Roasted Radishes
Seasoned with fresh thyme and red onions, these buttery radishes are an excellent accompaniment to just about any protein.
Ingredients:
1 bunch radishes, trimmed
½ cup red onion, thinly sliced
1 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into small pieces
2 tablespoons fresh thyme leaves
Olive oil
Sea salt and fresh ground pepper
Method:
1. Heat oven to 400°. Place radishes in a roasting pan. Drizzle with olive oil and scatter butter pieces over. Sprinkle thyme leaves over radishes, season with salt and toss to coat.
2. Roast 15-20 minutes, giving pan a shake midway through cooking.
3. Remove from oven, let cool slightly. Slice radishes into thick rounds. Place on serving dish, drizzle with olive oil. Sprinkle generously with salt and pepper, scatter with red onion slices.
How-To: Prep Fava Beans
Our quick guide to peeling and prepping fresh fava beans!
Ingredients:
1 pound fava beans
Method:
1. Peel: Pull off the top and “unzip” the seam of the bean pod. Open the pod and remove the beans. (There are usually 4 to 5 beans per pod.) The beans have a waxy outer coating, which you’ll need to remove.
2. Prep: Blanch them in boiling water for 30 seconds, and then transfer to an ice bath to stop the cooking process. The waxy coating will slip then right off.
3. Cook: From here, steam the beans until tender in a steamer basket or covered in the microwave, 3-5 minutes.
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.
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.