Because wild ramps aren’t a vegetable that many people have encountered before, we thought we’d publish a simple tutorial to getting them ready to eat.  How to Clean Ramps: 1.  Rinse ramps under cool running water. 2.  Discard any tough, over-large leaves unless your recipe involves pureeing. (They offer a lot of flavor, but can be …

Ramps (wild leeks) and potatoes are a match made in heaven.  Here’s a quick and easy way to take a humble baked potato and amp it up with one of the best wild flavors Mother Nature has to offer. Ingredients:                                 (Makes 3 Servings) 1/4lb Fresh Ramps, cleaned (How to Clean Ramps) 2 tbsp Unsalted Butter 2 tbsp Heavy Cream 3 …

Here we’re using ramps (wild leeks) in place of both the herbs and the garlic in pesto. It’s gorgeous, it’s got a really strong (delicious!) ramp flavor, but it doesn’t have much bite or spice because the ramps’ zing smoothes into the oil & cheese’s richness. Drink Pairings: Chablis or Bonarda from Argentina Ingredients: 1lb …

While miner’s lettuce and fresh morels are associated with Spring in the Pacific Northwest, in the Northeast they look forward to the arrival of delicious wild ramps or fiddlehead ferns.  If you like the flavor of onions, leeks, and scallions, these are the wild vegetables for you! Smoky, herby, and oniony, grilled ramps bring tremendous flavor to the table and …

Two spring favorites together in the same simple side dish.  Wild produce brings so much flavor to the party you don’t really need much else…just a little butter for richness. Ingredients:        (Makes Four Servings) 3 cups Fresh Morels 1 ½ cups Fresh Ramps 5 tbsp Unsalted Butter Directions: 1. Melt some butter in a frying …

Wild ramps have a delicious garlic/leek/onion flavor that is delicious fast-pickled.  With just a few minutes’ work and a 24 hour wait you can have savory-sweet pickled ramps for a tasty snack, sandwich topping, or a garnish that is as visually striking as it is flavorful. You can pickle as many ramps as you can fit in your …

Egg White Brioche Frittata with Morel Mushrooms and Wild Ramps Frittata is a terrific dish because it can be put together very quickly, and it can be eaten at any time of the day. While it is simple to make, a frittata can actually be quite gourmet, if it is made with a quality, unique, …

This rich, comforting twist on potato leek soup features a nice bite from the wild ramps and vinegar.   If desired, this vegetarian soup recipe can easily be made vegan by omitting the cream.  It’ll still be incredibly smooth and creamy thanks to the potatoes, the tablespoon of cream just takes it one decadent step further. Drink Pairings: Sancerre …

Fresh sardines are high in healthy omega-3 fatty acids and (because their bones are edible) calcium.  Unfortunately, despite their health benefits and popularity elsewhere in the world, most Americans are afraid of their fishiness.  Fresh sardines are often less fishy than the ones you find in the can, and grilling them, then adding a tasty …

When butter poached, halibut cheeks are tender, rich and slightly stringy, almost like lobster tails.    The ramps add just a hint of bite, although their spiciness has been significantly diminished by the butter poaching.  We’ve paired them with beluga lentils here for visual contrast, but most lentils or varieties of specialty rice would work well. Butter Poached …