Signs of Spring Recipes
Though our days continue to be drippy, the gardens are finally beginning to show signs of new life as the first of the shelling peas, mint and microgreens are now gracing us with their presence. Thus, spring fare takes center stage in this week’s box, too, with fresh semolina pasta, pain au levain bread and locally-crafted sharp cheddar cheese all helping to accent a bevy of produce that includes red cabbage rapini, romanesco and baby Japanese turnips. Crack open a bright Spanish white wine, pop a juicy apple cake into the oven and enjoy the first taste of the season!
Here are a few recipe ideas for the week:
Gemelli Pasta with Shelled Peas, Lemon & Mint
Adapted from The Smitten Kitchen Cookbook, this light and lovely pasta recipe sings of spring.
Chilled Pea Soup
Cooking the peas briefly retains their vibrant color, while the addition of fresh herbs keeps the finished soup tasting bright.
Shelled Pea Salad with Balsamic Vinaigrette
This bright salad is beautifully balanced by fresh mint and Marcona almonds.
Butter-Braised Turnips with Greens & Baby Shiitake Mushrooms
Simmered in rich chicken stock, this dish is finished with lemon juice and thyme for fresh appeal.
Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Buttered Breadcrumbs
Topped with buttery, golden brown breadcrumbs, these Brussels sprouts are the epitome of comfort food.
Arugula Pesto
This bright, flavorful pesto is wonderful drizzled over this week’s chilled pea soup or pea and mint pasta main!
F&L Apple Cake
Moist and incredibly flavorful, this cake comes together in just minutes!
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Grilled Spring Onions with Lemon & Thyme
This recipe elevates green onions from garnish to a stunning side dish.
Ingredients:
4-6 spring onions, trimmed of roots and tough outer ends, and rinsed
1 lemon
2 tablespoons fresh thyme
½ teaspoons red pepper flakes
Olive oil
Sea salt and fresh ground pepper
Method:
- Heat the grill to high. Place onions on a sheet pan and drizzle with olive oil to coat. Squeeze the juice of half the lemon over the top then sprinkle with the pepper flakes and season with salt and pepper. Toss again to spread out the seasonings.
Grill onions until the whites are soft and the tops go brown. Remove from the grill and squeeze a little more lemon juice over top and garnish with the thyme.
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Sauteed Spring Vegetables
Lightly sautéed in butter and kissed with lemon juice, these crisp spring vegetables are wonderful served atop this week’s risotto.
Ingredients:
1 pound asparagus stalks, cut into 2-inch pieces
½ bunch rainbow baby carrots, trimmed of greens, then peeled and trimmed into 2-inch matchsticks
4 baby leeks, trimmed of root and tough green ends and thinly sliced
3 shallots, trimmed of root ends and thinly sliced
1 cup pea vines, sliced into 1-inch pieces
2-3 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 tablespoon lemon juice Sea salt and fresh ground pepper
Method:
1. In a large sauté pan over medium-high heat, melt the butter and then add the asparagus and carrot pieces, tossing to coat. Continue to sauté for 6-8 minutes until veggies are just slightly softened.
2. Add in the minced leeks and shallots and continue to cook an additional 3-4 minutes until leeks and shallots are translucent. Add in pea vines and stir until vines just start to wilt. Season the entire dish with salt and pepper and squeeze lemon juice over top. Remove from heat and serve atop this week’s risotto.
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Spring Risotto
This bright risotto showcases beautiful spring vegetables and hearty Arborio rice—just remember to keep stirring!
Ingredients:
1½ cups Arborio rice
4 cups warm chicken stock
½ cup white wine (if desired)
½ shallot, finely chopped
1-2 tablespoons chopped garlic (if desired)
1¼ cups grated Parmesan or Grana-style cheese
2 tablespoons chopped parsley
4 cups Sautéed Spring Vegetables (see recipe)
Method:
1. In a sauce pan, bring the chicken stock to a boil and then turn down to a simmer to keep hot. In another large sauce pan over medium low heat, melt 4-5 tablespoons of butter and cook the garlic until soft but not brown.
2. Add garlic and continue cooking for about 2 minutes. Turn the heat up and add the Arborio rice. Stir for about one minute.
3. Add a ladleful of stock to the rice and continue stirring until almost absorbed. Add another ladleful of stock and the wine and continue stirring; repeat until all the stock is gone and the rice is creamy and tender.
4. Stir in the remaining butter and grated cheese until melted. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Top with the sautéed spring vegetables and parsley, serve immediately.
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Spring Salad with Deviled Duck Egg Vinaigrette
This salad puts both egg yolks and whites to delicious use.
Ingredients:
2 hard-boiled duck egg whites, sliced
½ pound asparagus, roasted or grilled
6 cups mixed spring lettuce greens, such as sunflower and pea shoots, plus arugula
1 cup cherry tomatoes
Vinaigrette:
2 hard-boiled duck egg yolks
¼ cup olive oil
2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
¼ teaspoon paprika
Sea salt and fresh ground pepper
Method:
1. To make the vinaigrette: In a food processor or blender, purée egg yolks, vinegar, mustard, paprika, salt and pepper until well combined. With the processor running, slowly drizzle in the olive oil until all the oil is incorporated.
2. In a large serving bowl, toss together egg whites, asparagus, spring greens and tomatoes. Toss with the vinaigrette and season to taste with more pepper as desired.
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Smoked Salmon Salad with Spring Greens & Preserved Lemon Vinaigrette
Tossed with a Meyer lemon vinaigrette, this salad exudes the light, refreshing flavors of the season.
Ingredients:
1 smoked salmon fillet, chopped into bite-size pieces
4 cups mixed greens, such as Mesclun and spinach greens
Preserved lemon vinaigrette (see recipe)
2 tablespoons freshly-chopped parsley
Olive oil
Sea salt and fresh ground pepper
Chopped tender herbs, such as chives, lovage and French tarragon
Method:
1. On a large serving platter, arrange the salad greens, then top with the smoked salmon and parsley.
2. Toss with desired amount of dressing, then taste for seasoning and add sea salt and pepper as needed. Garnish with freshly-chopped tender herbs of your choosing.
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Peas with Spring Onions, Lettuce & Herbs
This side dish from Chez Panisse Vegetables by Alice Waters is bursting with the bright flavors of spring.
Ingredients:
1 pound shelled sweet peas
1 head of fresh lettuce, torn
1 cup spring onions, chopped
2 tablespoons butter
Thyme sprig and fresh chives
Method:
1. In a saucepan, gently stew onions and lettuce leaves in a tablespoon each of butter and water, plus a sprig of thyme, until onions begin to soften.
2. Add shelled peas and cook until just tender. Season with salt and pepper and finish with a little butter and finely-chopped chives.
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Scrambled Eggs with Red Spring Onions & Leeks
Punched up with bright spring onions, these scrambled eggs are divine.
Ingredients:
8 eggs
¼ cup milk
½ cup chopped leeks, white and light green parts only
½ cup chopped spring onions
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 spring onions and leeks and cook, stirring constantly, for about 2-3 minutes, 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 onions and leeks.
3. Cook, stirring occasionally until eggs are set and no longer runny. Gently mix in the freshly-chopped parsley and serve immediately.
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Pasta with Sautéed Spring Greens & Chevre
This incredibly-satisfying pasta is very versatile: Use any combination of your favorite hearty greens!
Ingredients:
1 pound pasta of your choice
6 cups mixed spring greens, such as a mix of this week’s micro broccoli, sunflower shoots, pea shoots
1 bunch Swiss chard, tough ribs removed and greens coarsely chopped
3-4 cloves garlic, peeled and minced
2 tablespoons olive oil, divided
2 tablespoons butter, divided
½ cup Chevre cheese, crumbled
¼ pine nuts, toasted
Method:
1. Bring a large pot of well-salted water to a boil, then add the pasta. Cook until al dente, about 7-8 minutes. Reserve ½ cup pasta water, then drain pasta.
2. Meanwhile, heat 1 tablespoon each of olive oil and butter in the skillet. Once warm, add the garlic and all the greens, tossing to coat with oil and butter. Season with salt and pepper, then cover and sweat until greens are just wilted and tender and garlic is fragrant, about 4-5 minutes.
3. Add drained pasta to the skillet, then toss everything together with the rest of the olive oil and butter. If pasta seems a little dry, mix in reserved pasta water. Check for seasoning and add more salt and pepper if needed. Serve with crumbled Chevre and pine nuts on top.
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Spring Risotto with Morel Mushrooms
Creamy and delicious, this farm favorite is freshened up by locally-foraged morels and roasted veggies.
Ingredients:
1½ cups Arborio rice
4-5 cups warm Farm & Larder chicken stock
1 cup morel mushrooms, washed and patted dry
8 tablespoons butter
½ cup white wine (if desired)
½ finely chopped onion
1-2 tablespoons chopped garlic
1 cup grated Grated-style cheese
2 tablespoons chopped fresh herbs, such as parsley
Roasted Spring Vegetables (see recipe)
Method:
1. In a saucepan, bring the chicken stock to a boil and then turn down to a simmer to keep hot.
2. Set another large saucepan over medium low heat, then melt 4-5 tablespoons of butter and cook the onions until soft but not brown. Add garlic and morel mushrooms and continue cooking for about 2 minutes. Once morels are soft, remove to a plate.
3. Turn the heat up and add the Arborio rice to the pan with garlic and onion. Stir for about one minute. Add a ladleful of stock to the rice and continue stirring until almost absorbed. Add another ladleful of stock and the wine (if using) and continue stirring. Repeat until all the stock is gone and the rice is creamy and tender (this process usually takes 20-25 minutes).
4. Stir in the remaining butter, mushrooms, and grated cheese until melted.
5. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Sprinkle with fresh herbs and additional cheese, if desired, and top with roasted spring vegetables.
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