Marching Towards Spring Recipes
From the valiant and vivid purple crocuses peeping out of the soil to the first of the spring crops, the month of March is giving us some most welcome glimpses of the changing seasons. Thus, this week’s box is full of such winter favorites as beets, Kakai hulless squash and parsnips, while including the tender pea shoots, baby carrots, green onions and leeks that nod to the approaching spring. Rounding out this bright lineup, you’ll also find farm-fresh eggs, Pain au Levain bread, a silky, smooth Washington red wine, graham crackers in fun animal shapes and a beautiful hunk of farmstead cheddar cheese from Duvall’s own Cherry Valley Dairy. Enjoy!
Here are a few recipe ideas for the week:
Crispy Parsnip Chips
These lightly-salted baked chips are a wonderful afternoon snack.
Roasted Golden Beet & Carrot Dip
This beautiful spread is delicious with crostini or pita crisps!
Beet, Carrot & Pomegranate Salad
This colorful salad is sure to brighten up your table!
Balsamic-Glazed Root Vegetables
An herb-packed marinade infuses fresh flavor into late fall staples like carrots, squash and parsnips.
Buttery Braised Leeks
Accented with just a squeeze of lemon, these sublime leeks are a worthy side dish.
Honey-Glazed Baby Carrots
The inherent sweetness of fresh baby carrots is further enhanced in this glazed side dish from local chef John Sundstrom’s Lark: Cooking Against the Grain.
Braised Root Vegetables & Cabbage with Fruit
This ingenious recipe from Food & Wine boasts extra flavor thanks to the addition of apples and pears.
Ingredients:
4 carrots, peeled and sliced into ½-inch-thick pieces
4 large radishes, quartered
1 large rutabaga, peeled and cut into 1-inch pieces
1 head red cabbage, cored and coarsely chopped
1 small onion, peeled and thinly sliced
1 sweet apple, peeled, cored and cut into 1-inch pieces
1 pear, peeled, cored and cut into 1-inch pieces
2 tablespoons butter
2 tablespoons olive olive
2 garlic cloves, crushed
½ cup chicken stock or water
Sea salt and fresh ground pepper
Method:
1. Preheat the oven to 350°. In a large, deep skillet, melt the butter in the olive oil. When the foam subsides, add the onion, carrot, radish, rutabaga, cabbage, apple and garlic. Season with salt and black pepper and cook over high heat, stirring, until the vegetables are lightly browned in spots, about 6 minutes. Add the chicken broth and bring to a boil. Cover and braise in the oven for 25-30 minutes, until tender.
2. Remove from the oven, stir in the pear pieces and cook over high heat until the liquid is evaporated and the pear is tender, about 5 minutes. Transfer the braised fruits and vegetables to a bowl and serve.
Braised Rainbow Swiss Chard with Garlic
A wonderful side dish to accompany your fall entrées.
Ingredients:
1 large bunch rainbow Swiss chard, lower ends of stems removed, and then coarsely chopped
½ cup water
2 tablespoons olive oil
½ onion, peeled and chopped
2 cloves garlic, thinly sliced
Pinch red pepper flakes
Sea salt
Method:
1. Heat oil in a large sauté pan over medium heat. Cook garlic and onions, stirring often, until fragrant and golden, about 3-5 minutes. Stir in red pepper flakes, and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Stir in Swiss chard and 1 teaspoon salt.
2. Reduce heat to medium-low. Add water, and braise, covered, until greens are just tender and water evaporates, about 10 minutes. If greens are ready but there is still water in the pan, raise heat to medium-high, and cook, uncovered, until completely evaporated. Check seasoning, adding salt if necessary, and serve.
Braised Turnips & Carrots
Simmered in rich chicken stock, this dish is finished with lemon juice and thyme for fresh appeal.
Ingredients:
½ pound purple top turnips, green tops removed
½ pound carrots, green tops removed
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 both the turnip and carrots, then cut into 1-inch-long pieces.
2. Heat butter and oil over medium-high heat in a large sauce pan, then and add shallots, turnips and carrots. Sauté for about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally until vegetables 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 10 minutes, or until stock has mostly been absorbed by veggies. Add lemon juice and fresh thyme, then season to taste with more salt and pepper as needed. Serve warm.
