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Lamb Mushroom Barley Soup

February 14, 2013 By marketeditor

Many people who shop at the Saratoga Farmers’ Market certainly don’t eat the typical American diet. They fill their totes with our vegetables and fruits, add in local dairy products and eggs, choose some baked goods or bread, and select from the variety of meat and poultry, including lamb.

Lamb is a popular meat in many countries, in nearly every country but the United States. The Irish eat approximately 20 pounds of lamb per person each year; the French around 12 pounds; the Saudis 27 pounds; and New Zealanders, a whopping 57 pounds per person.

Contrast this with the minuscule amount of lamb eaten in the United States, less than one pound of lamb per person per year. At the Market, some of the customers must be competing well with other countries for lamb consumption. Surely they are on to something.

Lamb meat contains little marbling compared to other meats, because most of the fat occurs between the muscles and is easily trimmed. The meat itself contains only about 175 calories in a three-ounce serving, and the fat is only about 36 percent saturated.

Lamb is a versatile meat, lending itself to tasty dishes from many cuisines. Think of the French classic, lamb with spring vegetables, or the tagines of North Africa, osso bucco from Italy, Indian curries, Irish stew, and shepherd’s pie. Grilled lamb in summer, or even during a January thaw, is always a hit with the family and friends.

At the Market’s recent “Soup’s On Day,” vendors Mary and Bob Pratt of Elihu Farm brought a simple but tasty lamb soup, using many Farmers’ Market ingredients. This recipe serves at least 10 people; halve the ingredients to serve about five.  The recipe has been adapted from Soups ~ The Williams Sonoma Kitchen Library. 

Ingredients

(Ingredients marked * can be found at the Saratoga Farmers’ Market.)

 4 quarts water

2 Elihu Farm lamb shoulder chops, or 4 medium sized lamb shanks *

1 large package fresh shiitake mushrooms from Zehr & Sons *

(Or 10 oz. baby bella grocery-store mushrooms)

1 cup dried porcini or mixed dried mushrooms

2 carrots, peeled *

2 sticks of celery (In winter try celeriac. *)

2 medium onions *

2 tbsp. canola oil

2 tbsp. butter

2 cups pearl barley

Salt and pepper

Directions 

1) Brown the lamb in a frying pan and add to the 4 quarts of water or stock. (For an even heartier soup, first make a brown stock with some lamb bones.) While the lamb is browning, bring the water or stock to a boil. Add the lamb and simmer for an hour.

2) While the shoulder chops or shanks are simmering, coarsely chop the Zehr’s shiitake mushrooms. Sauté in butter in a frying pan until lightly browned. (They will shrink dramatically in size. Rehydrate with some of the water or stock, and set aside.)

3) Add enough of the water to the dried mushrooms to cover. Let rest for at least half an hour. Spoon out the dried mushrooms and chop coarsely. Pour off the soaking liquid, leaving behind any grit at the bottom, and add to the lamb.

4) Cut the carrots, onions and celery (or celeriac) into quarter-inch dice, and sauté in oil.

5) After the lamb has simmered for an hour, add the barley and chopped vegetables. Simmer for another hour.

6) Remove the lamb, debone, and chop finally. Skim the fat from the surface of the pot, and return the meat to the pot.

7) Add the reserved mushrooms and bring to a simmer.

8) Season with salt and ground pepper.

Filed Under: Seasonal Recipes

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Today at our International Flavor Fest! Thank you Today at our International Flavor Fest! Thank you to everyone who came by today. We hope you had fun! 😋🌎🌾
Exciting news! The Saratoga Farmers’ Market Flav Exciting news! The Saratoga Farmers’ Market Flavor Fest is happening tomorrow! 🎉🍴 Our vendors have amazing samples for you to taste, including mouth-watering chorizo and bratwurst from Hebron Valley Meats and delectable Chicken Briyani from Perfect Plant Farm. 😍 Don't forget to grab your passport for a chance to win a prize by collecting stamps from market vendors! 🛍️ @worldkidsmuseum will also be joining us with a fun kid's craft to make your own fortune cookie 🥠, and CCE food is back with a fermentation activity. 🌱 See you there! ✈️🌎😋

#saratogafarmersmarket #saratogasprings #thingstodoinupstateny #internationalfood #flavorfest #farmersmarket #kidsactivities #smallbuisness #shoplocal
Get ready to mushroom into a world of flavor at th Get ready to mushroom into a world of flavor at the Saratoga Farmers' Market! 🍄🌱 This week, we're thrilled to highlight the Mushroom Shop and their incredible selection of locally grown and harvested mushrooms. We spoke with owner's Jacob and Elysee to learn more.

Q: What are some of the health benefits associated with consuming mushrooms?

A: Mushrooms contain a multitude of medicinal compounds. The mushroom species Cordyceps militaris contains cordycepin, which increases your blood's ability to absorb and transport oxygen, improving exercise performance. Mukitake or Panellus serotinus possesses compounds that have shown in recent studies to improve liver function in people suffering from fatty liver disease. Reishi mushrooms improve immune health, warding off sickness and reducing inflammation. Other medicinal mushrooms include Turkey Tail, Chaga, Agarikon, Maitake, and Lions Mane.

Q: What inspired you to start selling mushrooms at the farmers' market?

A: We initially got our inspiration from a mushroom farm based in Tennessee called Mossy Creek Mushrooms. They have many videos on Youtube covering every aspect of operating a mushroom farm from building and maintaining equipment to harvesting and marketing mushrooms. Jacob has had an interest in growing mushrooms as a hobby for about eight years when he discovered a patch of oyster mushrooms growing in the wild. We got the opportunity to lease land in the beginning of 2021 and shortly after started selling at farmers’ markets.

Q: How do you recommend customers prepare and cook the mushrooms they purchase from you?

A: At our farmers markets we always provide printed recipes that utilize the mushrooms available during the current season. Like meat, mushrooms can be cooked in a variety of ways, such as sautéing, roasting, and grilling to create a flavorful dish. One of our recent favorites is a Spicy Crispy Lion's Mane Sandwich- a thick slab of Lion's Mane mushroom battered and fried on a toasted bun with spicy mayo and pickles. This is a delicious take on a chicken sandwich made entirely of whole, natural produce. 

*Find the Mushroom shop year round at our Saturday markets!*

#saratogafarmersmarket
Get ready for a mouth-watering adventure! 🍴🌍 Get ready for a mouth-watering adventure! 🍴🌍 Join us on Saturday, March 25th from 9:30 am to 1:30 pm at the Saratoga Farmers' Market's International Flavor Fest in the Wilton Mall food court! 🎉 Indulge in frgál cakes, julekaker, burek, curries, samosas, and more, representing cuisines from all around the world! 🌎 There will be live music, family-friendly activities, and food tastings that will take your taste buds on a journey around the globe! 🎶👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Plus, our friends at the World Awareness Children's Museum will be hosting a paper fortune cookie making session for the kiddos! Don't forget to pick up your passport for a chance to win a prize by filling it with stamps from market vendors! Let's celebrate our traditions, history, and community through the language of flavorful food! 😍🍴

 #InternationalFlavorFest #SaratogaFarmersMarket #FoodieAdventure #CommunityConnection

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