After winter’s harsh and lengthy reign, this year’s spring has slowly but finally emerged with sweet strawberries, nutty fava beans, succulent beets, crisp radishes and more fresh seasonal produce. Good things don’t last forever, so I suggest you take advantage of the best that is available now!
I know you can barely hold your excitement, but you must first understand what it means to eat seasonally. Just like how eating bread freshly baked in the morning supersedes the ones left on the shelf on sale, produce at its peak during the year has a much higher quality and bargain. Seasonal produce is cheaper and more abundant than out-of-season ingredients. Thanks to technology, we have unlimited access to different foods. But watermelon in the middle of February is not only tasteless; it’s more expensive, has a larger carbon footprint and isn’t as nutrient-dense as it is when it’s freshly picked in the summer. Fruits and vegetables taste so much better when picked fresh and when it’s not shipped from the other side of the globe frozen in a box for days.
So here are some amazingly delicious picks for spring!
1. Asparagus
This stalky green is harvested from March to June and is high in vitamin C, vitamin A and folate. They can simply be grilled, sauteed, steamed, braised or thinly sliced raw and seasoned with kosher salt, pepper and maybe some garlic and shallots. If you’re looking for a recipe, try this browned butter-balsamic asparagus with crispy lentils and fried egg.
Photo by Maggie Gorman
2. Sugar Snap Peas
These bright fellas are cute, crunchy, and delicious. They are at their best and sweetest right now in the early spring without the tough strings that appear in later spring and summer.
Photo by Tori Robertson
3. Fava Beans
Favas are harvested in early spring through summer and are favored for their slightly sweet and nutty flavored. They are usually found in gourmet supermarkets and farmer’s markets and can be puréed as a spread or soup or quickly blanched for a spring salad.
Photo courtesy of Dan on Flickr
4. Beets
Beets have a beautifully earthy and sweet taste that can’t be beat. Fresh beets are found with their leaves still attached. They can be roasted, steamed or boiled. You could slice ’em in a salad, pickle them, blend it in a smoothie or make Russian Borscht (soup) Check out this guide to Beets here.
Photo by Margaret Weinberg
5. Strawberries
Strawberries are at their peak from April to June. Who doesn’t love strawberries? You can throw them in smoothies or just eat ’em fresh!
Photo by Tori Robertson
Other produce in season are: rhubarb, fennel ,artichokes, leeks, spring onions, radishes, baby carrots, cherries, fiddleheads, mint, and morels (mushrooms). Expand your palate and try new vegetables for the new season!
Photo by Tori Robertson
More good stuff here:
- Keeping Produce Fresh
- Roasted Asparagus, Carrots and Zucchini
- Beets 101
- Salad: More Than Just Rabbit Food
- The Right Way to Grocery Shop