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Spring Split Pea Soup with Parsnips

April 24, 2014 By marketeditor

Saratoga Farmers’ Market has lots of traditional vegetables: familiar crowd-pleasers like lettuce and potatoes, cucumbers and tomatoes. Look closely, however, and you’ll find the market is also an excellent  resource for delicious varieties of less well-known produce, including rutabaga, many varieties of turnips, kohlrabi, and the subject of this week’s article: parsnips.

Parsnips from Pleasant Valley FarmDo you cook with parsnips? Perhaps you’ve seen them in the store, usually in bags near the carrots, and passed them over while reaching for their more vividly colored cousin. Parsnips are related to carrots, celery, chervil, fennel and parsley.  We eat the parsnip’s cream-colored root that grows in the ground.

Parsnips have a sweet taste, and actually grow sweeter when the fall crop is left to winter over in the ground. Pleasant Valley Farm, a large produce vendor at the market, just dug its crop of parsnips in the past few weeks.

“This time of the year is a transitional season, as we continue to enjoy the winter crops, dig some crops that benefit from being wintered over in the ground like parsnips and leeks, and also welcome the rapid growth of new greens for spring,” comments Paul Arnold, of Pleasant Valley Farm, which he farms in Argyle with his wife, Sandy, and their grown children, Kim and Robert.

Pleasant Valley Farm dug over 600 pounds of parsnips in early April and the parsnips will be sold during the spring farmers’ markets. “They are stored in our root cellar and usually last us until about the end of May.”

“Parsnips are unbelievably sweet at this time of year, and are a favorite in our family,” notes Sandy Arnold. “We like to serve them baked or roasted with butter, but they are very flexible and can be added to many roasts, soups, and stews. To use them in a recipe, we just scrub them with a vegetable brush and cut into pieces. No need to peel!”

Parsnips are also delicious when pureed and served underneath a main entrée, or when cubed and combined with carrots and turnips, tossed in olive oil, and roasted on a baking sheet.

Unlike carrots, which many people enjoy crunching on when they are raw, parsnips have a more fibrous texture, so most chefs prefer to cook them before serving.

With their sweet flavor and soft texture when cooked, parsnips are a pleasing vegetable to add to soups, such as split pea soup, and curry dishes. This week at the market, pick up some parsnips and experiment a little in your kitchen.

 

Spring Split Pea Soup with Parsnips

2 large parsnips*, diced to ½” cubes

1 large carrot*, diced to ½” cubes

2 stalks celery, chopped

1 large onion*, chopped

1 lb dried green split peas

1 tsp dried thyme

1 bay leaf

6 cups vegetable stock or water

Salt and pepper to taste

Optional: ham bone* or 1 tsp liquid smoke (only if vegetable stock or water used)

Place all ingredients in large soup pot, bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for one hour or until all vegetables and split peas are tender. Remove bay left.

To give your soup a smooth foundation, either use an immersion blender to puree a small portion of the soup, or transfer a few cups into a blender or food processor, and then return smooth puree to soup pot.

Be sure to taste your soup before adding salt. You may not need any if you have used a ham bone or if your stock has salt already added to it.

NOTE: Liquid smoke will give a vegetarian version of this soup a hearty flavor, or you can inquire of the market’s pork vendors what they may have available for ham bones.

 

 

Filed Under: Seasonal Recipes

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Have you tried any of @nettlemeadowfarm's newest S Have you tried any of @nettlemeadowfarm's newest Schroon Moon spreadable cow's cheeses yet? Go for savory or sweet with 5 different flavors. Pick some up at this Saturday's market - we'll be open 9:30am - 1:30pm at the Wilton Mall food court!
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#farmersmarket #saratogafarmersmarket #saratogasprings #saratogany #wilton #518 #518eats #farmfresh #nofarmsnofood #dairy #cheese
We are honored to be nominated as one of the Best We are honored to be nominated as one of the Best Farmers’ Markets in the Capital Region for the Times Union’s Best of 2021! Thank you to all of our amazing customers and community for your continued support! You can vote for us daily under the category “Goods & Services” using this link: https://www.timesunion.com/bestof2021/ 
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#timesunionbestof2021 #timesunionbestof #saratogafarmersmarket #farmersmarket 
#supportlocal #shoplocal #saratogany #saratogasprings
Starting off the week with another MCM (Market Cru Starting off the week with another MCM (Market Crush Monday!) This week we talked to Kim from Mugzy’s Barkery who brings healthy, locally made dog treats to the market. 
 
1. How did Mugzy’s Barkery get started? 
My sister Jaime started the business just over 5 years ago to have a healthier treat option to give her beloved Olde English Bulldog, Mugzy. Our treats are all natural and organic, providing a healthy alternative to mass-produced treats for caring dog parents. 
 
 2. What’s your favorite part about vending at the market?
Definitely getting to see all the dogs! The funny thing is I know all our regular customer’s dogs by name, not the owners. 
 
3. What are your most popular treat flavors?
Pumpkin paws (grain-free biscuits) and the pupcakes (a bite-sized treat) are really popular with the dogs but we also have flavors like PB cookie cups, apple cheddar training treats, banana buddies and more, so something to fit any pup’s tastes!
 
The PB cookie cups have been tried and approved by our market assistant’s dog, Lacey! 
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#saratogafarmersmarket #farmersmarket #saratoga #upstateny #shoplocal #saratogadog #farmersmarketfresh #mugzysbarkery #dogtreats #healthydogtreats
No need for an international flight when you can j No need for an international flight when you can journey around the world at the market! 🌍 Between Italian, Mediterranean, and Ukrainian, our vendors bring some of their best home cuisines to the market.
 
Have you tried My Dacha's Ukrainian food yet? Choose from lots of delicious options like pierogies, stuffed cabbage, kielbasa, or opt for sweet crepes. 🥟🤤 (If you've tried their food, what's your favorite?!)

We're open this Saturday, 9:30am - 1:30pm at the Wilton Mall food court!
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#farmersmarket #saratogafarmersmarket #saratogasprings #food #ukrainian #pierogies

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