Dressed Beets with Spring Onion

It's hard to believe that we are now just weeks away from rhubarb, strawberries, and the start of CSA distributions and farmers markets in New England. In preparation for this season, I'm exploring cookbooks, websites (the farm already has some great ideas, too), and just generally keeping my eyes peeled for healthy new recipes and ideas to share with you in the months ahead. Considering beets and spring onions are some of the earlier crops to be harvested, I thought it would be nice to share with you this simple preparation for roasted beets. Delicious on a salad or sauteed greens (how about those from the beets themselves?), sweet and tender beets tossed in a tangy vinaigrette are great served cold or hot. With all the beets that I frequently pick out for my weekly share, I predict I'll be making these, along with many a slaw and salad, for those hot and humid lunches on the farm.

Dressed Beets with Spring Onion
Makes about 6 servings

Ingredients:

• 3 medium beets (about 2 lbs, roots only)
• olive oil to drizzle
• 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
• 1 tbsp balsamic vinegar
• 1/4 tsp Dijon mustard
• 1/4 tsp maple syrup (optional)
• 1/4 cup oil (I used walnut oil)
• 1-2 small spring onions, thinly-sliced
• salt and pepper to taste

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Wash the beets, drizzle lightly with olive oil, and wrap in aluminum foil. Place the wrapped beets in a baking dish and roast until tender throughout, about 45-60 minutes. Remove them from the oven and allow to cool for five minutes or until you can handle them.

While waiting for the beets to cool, slice the onion or scallion, separating the white from green pieces, and set aside. In a small bowl, whisk together the vinegars, mustard, sugar (optional), oil, and salt until well combined.

Using clean hands, rub off the beets' skin (tough spots can be removed with a peeler). Slice the beets in half and then again into 1/4"-thick half-rounds or smaller; transfer to a deep bowl. Add the white parts of the onion and dressing, tossing or mixing with a rubber spatula to coat evenly. The dish can be served immediately but tastes even better when allowed to marinate for another 12-24 hours in the fridge. When ready to serve, sprinkle with the green parts of the onion. Consume within 5-7 days.

Dressed beets atop a bed of spring mix with red quinoa and goat cheese (a sprinkle of feta, sunflowers seeds, and balsamic vinegar were added after this picture was taken to make for an awesome lunch.)


Rebekah

Images by Rebekah Carter (2011-2012).

Don't husk that corn (yet)! And other grilled vegetables.

Whether during your workweek, weekend, or vacation, grilled vegetables are a summer treat to be enjoyed into the crisp days of autumn. If the simple elegance of brown grill marks aren't enough to convince you, the ease of preparation- chop, whisk, brush, grill, serve- should be adequate reason to try your hand at cooking vegetables, including unlikely candidates such as sweet corn and Swiss chard, over the flames. Below is a classic combination of vinegar, oil, fresh herbs, and spices to try out during your next outdoor cooking adventure. Though I've given approximate measurements for ingredients, this recipe is quite flexible; I encourage you to experiment with the myriad flavors available this time of year in New England. If you've discovered a winning combination, share it with our farm friends on our Facebook page.

Grilled Summer Vegetable Dressing
Makes about 1 cup

Ingredients:

• 1/4+ cup vinegar (apple cider or balsamic work well)
• 3/4 cup olive oil
• 1-3 cloves garlic, minced (depending on preference)
• 2-3 tbsp fresh herbs, chopped fine (i.e. basil, parsley, oregano, marjoram)
• 1/2 tsp paprika
• 1-2 tbsp maple syrup (optional)
• salt and pepper to taste

Directions for Grilling Veggies:

Slice summer vegetables, such as green onions, eggplant, zucchini, summer squash, carrots, tomatoes, and bell peppers, in half, lengthwise; larger squashes and onions can be sliced again in halves or thirds, as seen fit. Whisk together all dressing ingredients; brush generously onto the vegetables. Grill dressed vegetables over medium to medium-high heat until tender, about 2-4 minutes; flip halfway through cooking. Season with additional salt and pepper, if desired; serve hot or cold.

Grilling Sweet Corn

Carefully pull back husk leaves without detaching them from the stem; replace leaves so that the kernels are once again covered. Silk-side up, hold individual ears under cold running water for several seconds. Grill over medium-high heat for several minutes until husks are browned or blackened, turning throughout for even cooking. Remove husks and season as desired; serve hot.

Grilling Swiss Chard and Kale

Using either the dressing described above or simply a high-quality olive oil, brush or rub the oil onto the greens and sprinkle with salt; grill leaves over medium heat until wilted with crisp edges, about 1-2 minutes; turn greens halfway through cooking. Serve immediately.

Are grilled vegetables healthy?

There is some confusion about the healthfulness of grilling various foods. Rest assured, grilling is a safe and healthy method for cooking your favorite summer fruits and vegetables. Unlike meats, plants lack creatine, an organic acid found in muscle, that combines with sugars naturally present in flesh that form carcinogenic compounds called heterocyclic amines (HCAs) when cooked at high temperatures. More HCAs are formed during grilling compared to other cooking methods due to the tendency to grill meats over high heat for long periods of time. Fat drippings on the grill also create carcinogenic compounds known as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) that stick to food surfaces as they are cooked. Marinating meats, cooking at lower temperatures, and preventing flare-ups from fat drippings can greatly reduce your exposure to these potentially harmful compounds when grilling meat.


Rebekah

Images by Rebekah Carter (2011). Information on the healthfulness of grilled foods referenced from The Cancer Project, The Washington Post, and Consumer Reports.

Cast-Iron Brussels Sprouts

I adore cruciferous vegetables. Long touted for their high-nutrient content, some crucifers are hearty enough to make a meal on their own. Enter: Brussels sprouts. These little cabbages are packed with health-promoting goodness, are typically milder in flavor than full-size cabbage heads, and are just plain cute as the dickens. Seriously, what's not to love about a baby cabbage? Better question: what's the best way to get more of these little guys in your diet? How about this recipe to start:

Cast-Iron
Brussels Sprouts

The Ingredients

• Brussels sprouts, rinsed
• Onion, quartered and divided (as much or as little as you like; I used equal parts BS and onion)
  
• Butter or oil (I used about 1 tbsp butter for the amount is pictured here)
• A splash of balsamic vinegar (about 1 tbsp used here)
• A splash of molasses (about 1 tbsp used here; I realize molasses doesn't exactly "splash" into the pan, but I promise it will quickly loosen up upon hitting that hot skillet!)
• Salt to taste

How to Make it:

Heat a cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat with butter or oil; add your onions and cook until tender and browned. While the onions caramelize, cut your sprouts in half; if you prefer, cut off the rough ends on the sprouts before slicing them in half. Over high-heat, move the onions to the edges of the skillet and place each sprout half, flat-side down, onto the skillet; cook for a minute or two, or until the flat-side is browned (what culinary types like to call a "hard sear"). Add your balsamic vinegar, molasses, and salt, and stir well to evenly coat the sprouts and onions; cook for another two or so minutes until slightly tender. Bon appétit!

For our omnivorous friends: Try this same recipe but replace the butter/oil with bacon. With your onions, cook bacon strips in "piles" around the skillet until cooked through. Take the bacon out of the skillet, give it a rough chop, and then add it back to the skillet with your sprouts; follow the rest of the recipe as previously mentioned. I brought this version to the Harvest Potluck and it was gone in minutes!

Rebekah

Images by Rebekah Carter (2011).