Saturday, April 27, 2013

Wild Leek (Ramp) Recipes

 
I didn't have a banner mushroom year, but did find my share of wild leeks (ramps.)  This was the first time I got into these guys and won't be my last.  Think cross between onion / garlic.  But a little more earthy and just popping with flavor.  I picked bags of them and then had to figure out something to do with them. 

The soup recipe came via Southern Foods online and it was out of this world.  So good.  After frying them up or eating them in salads, I didn't have a ton left, but I decided to pickle a few jars for later in the year just to try something new.  I can't say I've even tried these yet, but they do look really, really good.  I'm thinking fishing / hunting camp with some good cheese / crackers and a nice strong IPA.


Potato and Wild Leek (Ramps) Soup 


 

Ingredients:

  • 4 to 6 slices bacon
  • 4 cups chopped ramps (including green)
  • 4 to 5 cups diced red potatoes
  • 3 tablespoons flour
  • 4 cups chicken broth
  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • salt and pepper, to taste

Preparation:

In a large skillet or Dutch oven, fry bacon until crispy; set bacon aside. Add ramps and potatoes to the skillet; fry on medium-low heat until ramps are tender. Sprinkle with flour; stir until flour is absorbed. Stir in chicken broth; simmer until potatoes are tender. Stir in the cream and heat thoroughly. Add salt and pepper to taste.
Serves 4 to 6.
  
 



Pickled Leeks

 
 
I found this brine online on another Blog. 

- 8 cups of leeks bulbs
- 5.5 cups of 5% white vinegar
- 1 cup distilled water
- 2 teaspoons of canning or Kosher salt
- 2 cups sugar
- 8 teaspoons mustard seed
- 4 teaspoons celery seed
- 2 teaspoons coriander seed
- 2 teaspoons hot pepper flakes

Simmer vinegar, water, salt and sugar for 3-minutes before adding the leeks. 

Once you`ve simmered for 3-minutes, add the leeks and bring back to a gentle simmer for 5 minutes (start timing once you`r back at a boil). Add into hot sterilized pint jars (leaving a half inch of head space), remove any air bubbles and place in a hot water bath under a full boil for 10 minutes.



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