After a denied request for garden space at the middle school where he taught, Kamal Bell founded Sankofa Farms in Orange County to help a group of boys learn life skills, reconnect with their African heritage and provide food for their communities. By Casey Toth | Juli Leonard | […]
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Spring is in the air and produce offerings at local North Carolina farmers markets are starting to change.
Here’s what’s in season at local Triangle farmers markets in March. Keep reading for some yummy ways to prepare what you bring home.
Two quick reminders:
- Don’t forget to take your reusable bags to the farmers market.
- While there, check to see if your farmers market lets you drop off compost. The Carrboro Farmers’ Market, for example, allows market attendees to bring their food scraps and food-related paper products to the market every Saturday. For more information, visit carrborofarmersmarket.com/compost-program.
For a guide on what you can compost, check out The N&O’s story about composting basics: newsobserver.com/news/local.
For a guide to Triangle Farmers Markets, visit: newsobserver.com/living/food-drink.
What’s in season at the farmers market in March?
Here’s what’s in season at your local farmers market in March, according to the Got To Be NC Dept. of Agriculture’s “What’s in Season?” chart.
Asparagus
Collards
Greens
Herbs
Mushrooms
Peanuts
Spinach
Sweet potatoes
And here’s what Durham’s Sankofa Farms will be harvesting this month, CEO Kamal Bell said:
Lettuces
Kale
Chard
Celery
Recipes for your March farmers market haul
Lourdes Vinueza, demonstration garden coordinator at the Food Bank of Central and Eastern NC in Raleigh, prepares her garden’s vegetables in her kitchen year-round.
As spring approaches, she has leafy salads on her mind.
Her springtime salad has a red lettuce and arugula base with a red onion-infused dressing. Here’s what you need for her dressing:
Shallots, sliced thin. “Thin, thin, thin. Like you can’t even see them,” she said.
Olive oil
Rice vinegar, or white vinegar works too
Honey
Dijon mustard
Salt and pepper
Red onions sliced however you’d like. “Sometimes I do thin strips, sometimes I do fat cuts. I just love red onion!” she said.
Combine all ingredients and shake well. But make sure you save time for the most important step: Soak the red onions in your dressing for at least 15 minutes before pouring the mixture over your spring lettuce.
“I don’t love bacon, but it’s popular to add bacon to a salad like this,” she said. “I love fruits and nuts, especially walnuts, and I like adding shredded chicken to prepare a simple salad for lunch.”
Salads are an easy way to get your spring veggies in, especially if the kitchen isn’t your favorite place.
You can also sauté or roast your veggies for a simple and delicious side to a meal. All you need is your oil of choice, salt and pepper and any other seasonings you love, like garlic powder or thyme.
“I’m not a great cook, so I usually just clean off my veggies and sauté them with canola oil, then add salt and pepper,” Bell told us. “I’ve been eating a lot of sautéed kale recently.”
Add roasted asparagus to your plate alongside chicken or fish, and enjoy some sautéed chard next time you’re itching to make one of your southern favorites.
Food & Wine has a recipe for roasted asparagus and mushrooms. Here’s what you’ll need:
- 1 pound fresh asparagus
- 1 pound mushrooms (Food & Wine recommends hen-of-the-woods, oyster or morel mushrooms.)
- 2 TBSP Olive oil
- 1 tsp kosher salt
- 2 TBSP unsalted butter
- 1 TBSP fresh thyme leaves
- 1 cup Arugula or watercress
- Flaky sea salt
- Balsamic vinegar for drizzling
Preheat the oven to 450°F. After coating your veggies in olive oil, spread them out on a lined rimmed baking sheet and add salt. Roast for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally. Then add butter and thyme, and roast for five more minutes. Be sure to toss the vegetables after removing from the oven to coat them evenly in butter.
After plating, drizzle with balsamic vinegar.
To see this recipe and other asparagus recipes, visit: foodandwine.com/recipes/roasted-asparagus-and-mushrooms.
