PrintRamps. HTF?
This morning I stopped by the farmers market on my way to work and picked up two 'bunches' of ramps.
This is like the next best thing to a ressy at the new Momo Ko here in New York. Thing is, I do not know what to do with this green leafy vegetable.
Dear ramp fiends, how the heck do you eat these magical leafy things?
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15 Comments:
They are like mini leeks, or larger better tasting scallions. Have you ever cooked with leeks? You need to clean them well, then really any way you want to prepare then is good. Sautée them whole on a hot skillet in butter or oil. Trim off the greens, blanch / shock them and use in a brothy soup. Dice the white part and use instead of shallots for sauces, garnishes, or anywhere you would normally use shallots. Raw, julienned, dressed in a vinaigrette for a salad. Use them instead of leeks for a potato-ramp soup. Bake them into a quiche or use them in a frittata. Braised, again, the same way you would leeks. Rolled in sushi rice with yellowtail, or rolled in thinly sliced seared beef, negimaki style... Sky is the limit. Just remember that since they are smaller and more delicate than leeks, you will need to adjust your cooking times accordingly, they will cook much faster. Have fun!
simon at 12:05PM on 05/02/08
If you haven't had them before, I'd chop them up really finely, saute them with some butter and a bit of salt until they're very soft and slightly colored, throw in a little lemon juice, toss with a thin pasta like spaghetti or capellini, and top with grated parm reg. That way the flavor of the ramps will really shine, but you'll be able to make a meal out of them! Then you can move on to more complex recipes once you're hooked on them!
ChristineB at 12:08PM on 05/02/08
@simon,
Wow, thanks for all the tips and ideas!
@ChristineB,
Thanks for the idea about chopping them up finely, I might try that too!
foodinmouth at 12:16PM on 05/02/08
The first time I had ramps, I was hooked. I've had them several different way since and I still prefer the first way, which was grilled.
It was served with grilled fish (probably rockfish or stripedbass) and the ramps really stole the show. Really simply brushed with a little olive oil, salt & pepper, and grilled briefly. That little bit of smokey char made my first ramp experience still unequaled. I highly recommend letting your ramps hit a hot grill. For ramp's sake, don't let it burn to a crisp.
I don't like it in brothy soups/dishes, it seems to get lost in all that liquid, and it becomes just a leek.
@simon's suggestion of negimaki style sounds AWESOME!
wookie at 12:31PM on 05/02/08
There is a recipe on another post as well as a recipe in the comments of same post.
http://www.seriouseats.com/recipes/2008/05/dinner-tonight-ramps-with-linguine-recipe.html
wookie at 12:36PM on 05/02/08
food, you're welcome. Wookie, thanks :)
more ideas here:
Ideas in Food
Pickling them is an option I had forgotten about. In any case, you will have a lot of fun and delight with your ramps.
simon at 12:39PM on 05/02/08
I really enjoyed mine in a potato gratin
http://littlebouffe.blogspot.com/2008/04/ramp-and-potato-gratin.html
renzata at 12:45PM on 05/02/08
I am so jealous of all you ramp-finders. The weeds I removed from my yard last weekend are indeed weeds (or random flowers leftover from the previous owner, but I'm too green-thumbed challenged to know any better) and not ramps. *wiping tears away*
wookie at 12:52PM on 05/02/08
@wookie,
aw! are they not at your farmers market? this is the first time that i have ever encountered them.
foodinmouth at 1:41PM on 05/02/08
I miss getting ramps at the Union Square market :( I tried to get some last Saturday morning at the small year-round market here in Baltimore but to no avail. I'm trying again tomorrow. And if I fail, I am getting up super-early to go to the Sunday market.
I NEED RAMPS!
(BTW, they're great in risotto or with thin long pasta, like someone previously mentioned. Keep it simple with the ramps or you won't taste them.)
charm city cupcake at 1:41PM on 05/02/08
wookie, you have a yard, grow yer own.
simon at 2:02PM on 05/02/08
@foodinmouth--recently moved to IN and I have not seen a one. Not even an empty bin with a "ramps" sign. sigh.
@simon--holy freaking moly! Grow my own, of course! This is my first year with a yard and a garden. My arugula is finally germinating, yay! So, I'm filled with optimism. I will try to grow ramps! OMG, my own ramps.
wookie at 3:11PM on 05/02/08
you will have ramps a plenty. you could even sell them on the weekends for >$20/lb!!! maybe too late for this year, they go to seed in June, or at least that's what they do in the wild. I am going to order some seeds too, we can check in with each other to see how our little ramp farming experiment goes...
simon at 3:48PM on 05/02/08
Well, thanks for the well-timed post. I got my first bunch of ramps with my produce delivery yesterday. I'll be making ramp risotto tonight. Had been planning on making asparagus risotto, but I've had that before.
blackolive at 6:26PM on 05/02/08
I used most of mine instead of green onions in my Thai vegetable curries. The sharp garlic onion flavor was really stood out in the curry.
Then I had some really good eggs so I made buckwheat crepes with eggs, bacon and ramps.
maggiehc at 6:40PM on 05/05/08