Shop Local, Eat Fresh at the Saratoga Farmers' Market | Food, Crafts, Music in Saratoga Springs

Shop Local, Eat Fresh

garlic

Herbed Spring Salad with Egg and Walnuts

By

iStock

Adapted from the recipe by David Tanis
Yield: 4 servings
Time: 1 hour

This bright, herby, fresh-tasting salad makes a very nice accompaniment to a seared pork chop. The components can be prepared in advance, but wait until the last minute before dressing and serving.

Ingredients:
*Ingredients currently available at the farmers’ market

FOR THE VINAIGRETTE:
● 2 tablespoons finely diced yellow onion*
● 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
● 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar or sherry vinegar
● 3 tablespoons lemon juice, plus more to taste
● ½ teaspoon grated garlic* (from 2 small cloves)
● Kosher salt and black pepper
● ¼ cup walnut oil or extra-virgin olive oil

FOR THE SALAD:
● 4 cups lightly packed watercress* or a mixture of salad greens*
● 3 medium beets*, cooked, peeled, and cut in wedges
● ½ cup thinly sliced radish* (6 to 8 medium radishes)
● ½ cup thinly sliced turnip* (or use small kohlrabi*)
● ½ cup thinly sliced cucumber*
● Kosher salt and black pepper
● 2 tablespoons roughly chopped dill*
● 2 tablespoons basil* leaves, torn
● 4 (7-minute) boiled eggs*
● 1 cup toasted walnut halves

Instructions
1. Make the vinaigrette: Put shallots in a small bowl. Add mustard, vinegar, 3 tablespoons lemon juice, and garlic. Stir together, and add a pinch of salt and pepper. Whisk in the walnut oil. Set aside for a few minutes, then taste and adjust lemon juice and salt.
2. Wash and dry the salad greens. Tear large leaves into smaller pieces, if desired. Wrap in a clean towel and refrigerate if not serving immediately.
3. Just before serving salad, put beet wedges in the bottom of a wide salad bowl. Add the radish, turnip, and cucumber. Season with salt and pepper. Add dill, basil, and half of the vinaigrette. Toss gently to coat.
4. Add the salad greens and combine to distribute sliced vegetables evenly. Cut eggs in halves or quarters, and arrange over salad. Scatter walnuts over the top. Drizzle with the remaining vinaigrette.

Swiss Chard and Kale Gratin

By

Photo by Pattie Garrett

Recipe by Cook’s Illustrated, shared by My Saratoga Kitchen Table
Serves: 8 to 10

Ingredients
*Ingredients currently available at the farmers’ market
● 2 pounds Swiss chard*
● 1 pound curly kale*, stemmed and cut into 1 inch wide strips
● 2 garlic cloves*, peeled
● 3 cups rustic white bread*, cut into ¾ inch cubes
● 5 Tablespoons olive oil, divided
● 1 cup Parmesan cheese
● ¾ teaspoon table salt, divided
● ½ teaspoon pepper, divided
● 1 onion*, chopped coarse
● 1½ teaspoon minced fresh thyme*
● 1 cup heavy cream
● ⅛ teaspoon ground nutmeg

Instructions
1. Adjust oven rack to upper-middle position and heat oven to 375 degrees. Stem chard, then cut stems into 2 inch lengths and set aside. Slice leaves into 1 inch wide strips. Bring 2 cups water to boil in Dutch oven over high heat. Add kale, cover and reduce heat to medium-high. Cook until kale is wilted about 5 minutes, stirring halfway through cooking. Add chard leaves, cover and continue to cook until chard is wilted, about 4 minutes longer, stirring halfway through cooking. Transfer to colander set in sink and let drain. Do not wash pot.
2. Pulse garlic in food processor until coarsely chopped, 5 to 7 pulses. Add bread and 3 Tablespoons oil and pulse until largest crumbs are smaller than ¼ inch, 8 to 10 pulses. Add Parmesan cheese, ¼ teaspoon salt, and ¼ teaspoon pepper and pulse to combine. Transfer to bowl.
3. Add onion and chard stems to now empty processor and process until finely chopped, scraping down sides of bowl as needed, 20 to 30 seconds. Transfer to now-empty pot. Add thyme, remaining 2 Tablespoons oil, remaining ½ teaspoon salt, and remaining ¼ teaspoon pepper. Cook over medium high heat, stirring occasionally, until moisture has evaporated and mixture is just beginning to brown, 8 to 10 minutes.
4. Using spatula, press gently on greens in colander to remove excess moisture. Transfer greens to pot with onion mixture. Add cream and nutmeg and stir to combine. Transfer mixture to 13 X 9 inch baking dish. Sprinkle bread crumb mixture evenly over surface. Bake until topping is golden brown and filling bubbles around edges 20 to 25 minutes. Let cool for 10 minutes before serving.

Slow-Cooked Beef Shank with Polenta and Vegetables

By

Recipe provided by market customer Enrico Patarini
Serves: 4

Ingredients
*Ingredients currently available at the farmers’ market

For beef shanks:
● 3-4 large carrots*, cut in rough cubes
● 1 large turnip, cut in medium-large cubes
● 1 medium onion*, cut into eighths
● 2 cloves garlic*, cut in large chunks
● 1 beef shank*
● 1 tbsp maple syrup*
● 1 cup of red wine*
● 1 tbsp balsamic vinegar
● Salt, to taste
● Parsley* for garnishing
● 2-3 cups water (to mostly cover meat)

For polenta:
● 1 cup dried Abenaki corn*, ground (use blender or food processor)
● 1 cup water + 3 cups water
● ½ cup mozzarella*, cubed
● 1 tbsp salt

Instructions
1. Lay down a thin layer of onion, carrot, and turnip. Place the shank on top of that. Fill in around the sides with the remaining onion, carrot, and turnip to fill the crock pot.
2. Sprinkle garlic on top and pour red wine on meat. Then splash balsamic vinegar and maple syrup on meat. Add salt and seasonings of choice (rosemary or Italian seasoning fit great) sprinkled over meat.
3. Put the crock pot on medium-low heat. Add water to cover about three-quarters of the meat. Add the lid. Leave it going for 4.5 to 5.5 hours, flipping meat and stirring veggies every hour or so. It’s done when a fork will pull away the meat from the bone without a knife.
4. For the polenta: Combine a cup of cornmeal with 1 cup of water in a bowl and stir together into a paste. Bring the other 3 cups of water to a boil and add a tablespoon of salt.
5. Once the water is boiling, add the corn paste to the boiling water. Stir around with a wooden spoon and try to keep it from sticking to sides. Turn heat to medium and keep it at a low boil. After 5 or so minutes of intermittent stirring it should be one mass.
6. Add in mozzarella, continue stirring for 1-2 minutes and turn off the heat once the chunks start to melt in. Leave it on the hot burner for 5-10 minutes to dry out a little more. Done when set.

Whatever Soup

By

Photo by Pattie Garrett

Recipe by Samin Nosrat for New York Times Cooking, shared by My Saratoga Kitchen Table
Serves: 6 to 8

Ingredients
*Ingredients currently available at the farmers’ market
● 4 Tablespoons of olive oil
● 2 medium onions*, sliced
● 3 garlic cloves*, sliced
● 6 to 8 cups diced vegetables*
● 1½ pounds raw boneless chicken*
● 6 to 8 cups of chicken stock
● Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions
1. Set a large Dutch oven or stockpot over medium-high heat and add 4 tablespoons oil. When the oil shimmers, add onions and garlic.
2. Reduce the heat to a medium and cook, stirring occasionally, until the onions are tender, about 8-10 minutes.
3. Place the chicken and vegetables in the pot. Add enough chicken stock to cover. Season with salt and pepper. Increase heat to high and bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer.
4. Cook until the flavors have come together and the vegetables are tender, about 20 minutes more. Remove chicken from the soup once it’s cooked through, allow to cool enough to handle. Shred and return it to the soup.
5. Add more hot liquid if needed.
6. Serve hot.

*Note: Currently in season at the farmers’ market: cabbage, carrots, celeriac, collard greens, kale, kohlrabi, leeks, mushrooms, potatoes, rutabaga, sweet potatoes, turnips, winter squash, and more.

Butternut Squash Macaroni and Cheese

By

Photo by Pattie Garrett

Recipe by Simply Scratch, shared by My Saratoga Kitchen Table
Serves: 6

Ingredients
*Ingredients currently available at the farmers’ market
● sea salt for the pasta water
● olive oil spray for baking dish
● 16 ounces dry pasta, rigatoni, or your favorite pasta
● 4 Tablespoons unsalted butter
● 1 large shallot*, finely minced
● 2 cloves of garlic*, minced
● 10 fresh sage leaves, minced
● 3 Tablespoons all-purpose flour
● 1 cup chicken broth
● 1½ cups half and half
● pinch of kosher salt, plus more or less to taste
● freshly ground black pepper to taste
● ⅛ teaspoon freshly ground nutmeg
● 1½ cups homemade roasted butternut squash* puree
● 1 cup grated parmesan cheese
● 1¼ cups shredded extra-sharp cheddar cheese*, divided

Instructions
1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and spray a large casserole dish with cooking spray. Cook the pasta according to the package directions.
2. Melt butter in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add in the shallot and garlic. Sauté until soft, about 2 – 3 minutes. Then add the fresh sage and stir, cooking for 1 minute.
3. Sprinkle in the flour and whisk, cooking the flour for 1 to 2 minutes.
4. Next whisk in the chicken broth and half & half. Season with a small pinch of salt, lots of freshly ground black pepper, and nutmeg. Heat over medium-low, whisking occasionally until the sauce has thickened about 4 to 5 minutes.
5. Reduce the heat to low and add the butternut squash puree, parmesan, and ¼ cup of the cheddar cheese. Whisk until smooth.
6. After the pasta is cooked, drain the pasta and transfer it to the cheese sauce. Toss to combine.
7. Move the oven rack to the highest position in the oven and preheat the broiler to high.
8. Pour the pasta into the prepared casserole dish and sprinkle with the remaining cup of cheddar cheese. Slide the pan under the broiler for 3 to 4 minutes or until the cheese is melted and is light golden brown in spots.

Notes: To make butternut squash puree, you need 1 butternut squash, olive oil, and kosher salt. Wash and pat dry the squash. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. With a sharp knife, trim off the ends and cut in half lengthwise. Brush with olive oil. Place the squash halves cut-side down on a rimmed baking sheet. Roast on a rack placed in the middle of the oven for 40 to 60 minutes. Allow to cool enough to handle. With a spoon scoop out the flesh and place it in the food processor. Puree until smooth.

Marquette-Braised Beef Brisket

By

Recipe by Frank Falcinelli and Frank Castronovo for Food & Wine
Active time: 45 mins
Total time: 4 hrs 30 mins
Yield: 6 servings

AdobeStock

Ingredients
*Ingredients available at the farmers’ market
● 2 1/2 pounds beef brisket*, fat trimmed to 1/4 inch
● 2 cups of Fossi Stone’s Marquette*
● 1 cup red wine vinegar
● 4 juniper berries, smashed
● 2 teaspoons white peppercorns
● 2 carrots*, finely diced
● 1 celery rib, finely diced
● 2 garlic cloves*, thinly sliced
● 4 large onions*, thinly sliced
● 1/4 cup canola oil
● Salt and freshly ground pepper
● 2 tart apples*, finely chopped, plus 1/2 tart apple, peeled and chopped, for garnish (optional)
● 1/2 cup raisins
● 1 bay leaf
● 1 teaspoon chopped thyme*
● 3/4 cup chicken stock or low-sodium broth

Instructions
● In a large resealable plastic bag, combine the beef brisket with the Marquette, red wine vinegar, juniper berries, white peppercorns, carrots, celery, garlic, and 1 of the onions. Close the bag, pressing out any air, and refrigerate the brisket overnight or for up to 2 days.
● Preheat the oven to 275°. Strain the marinade, discarding the solids. Pat the brisket dry. In a large enameled cast-iron casserole, heat the oil. Season the brisket with salt and pepper and cook over moderate heat until browned all over, 8 to 10 minutes. Transfer the brisket to a large plate. Add the remaining 3 onions and the 2 finely chopped apples to the casserole and cook over moderate heat, stirring frequently, until softened, about 7 minutes.
● Return the brisket to the casserole and add the raisins, bay leaf, thyme, and the strained marinade. Season with salt and pepper and bring to a simmer. Cover and braise in the oven for about 3 hours, until the meat is very tender; turn the brisket halfway through cooking.
● Carefully transfer the brisket to a plate; cover and keep warm. Strain the cooking liquid into a heatproof measuring cup, pressing down on the solids. Wipe out the casserole and add the cooking liquid and chicken stock. Boil over moderately high heat until reduced by half, about 20 minutes. Season the sauce with salt and pepper. Thinly slice the brisket across the grain and garnish with the chopped apple. Serve with the sauce and a glass of Fossil Stone’s Marquette.

Make Ahead: The brisket can be refrigerated in the sauce, whole or sliced, for up to 2 days. Rewarm in the oven.