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soup

Farmers’ Market Gazpacho

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Adapted from the recipe by Julia Moskin, featured in New York Times Cooking

Yields 8 to 12 servings, about 1 quart

Cook time: Approximately 20 minutes, plus chilling time
Ingredients

*Ingredients available at the farmers’ market

● About 2 pounds ripe red tomatoes*, cored and roughly cut into chunks
● 1 green pepper*, cored, seeded, and roughly cut into chunks
● 1 cucumber*, about 8 inches long, peeled and roughly cut into chunks
● 1 small mild onion* (white or red), peeled and roughly cut into chunks
● 1 clove garlic*
● 2 teaspoons sherry vinegar, more to taste
● Salt
● ½cup extra-virgin olive oil, more to taste, plus more for drizzling

Preparation

1. Combine tomatoes, pepper, cucumber, onion, and garlic in a blender or, if using a hand
blender, in a deep bowl. (If necessary, work in batches.) Blend at high speed until very
smooth, at least 2 minutes, pausing occasionally to scrape down the sides with a rubber
spatula.
2. With the motor running, add the vinegar and 11/2 teaspoons salt. Slowly drizzle in the
olive oil. The mixture will turn bright orange or dark pink and become smooth and
emulsified, like a salad dressing. If it still seems watery, drizzle in more olive oil until
texture is creamy. Optional: to ensure smooth consistency, strain the mixture through a
strainer or a food mill, pushing all the liquid through with a spatula or the back of a ladle.
3. Transfer to a large pitcher and chill until very cold, at least 6 hours or overnight.
4. Before serving, adjust the seasonings with salt and vinegar. If soup is very thick, stir in a
few tablespoons ice water. Serve in glasses, over ice if desired, or in a bowl. A few
drops of olive oil on top are a nice touch.

Borscht Recipe (Beet Soup)

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Adapted from the recipe by Holly Nilsson

Prep & cook time: 50 minutes

Makes 6 servings

Servings6

 

Borscht is a traditional soup eaten in many Eastern European countries, including Ukraine, where it is an important part of culinary identity. Beets give this vegetable soup an earthy sweetness, while a dash of lemon juice and zest provide contrasting sour notes.

Ingredients

*Ingredients currently available at the Saratoga Farmers’ market

  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 4 red beets*, peeled and ½ inch diced (approx 1 ½ pounds)
  • 2 carrots*, ½ inch diced
  • 1 large potato*, peeled and ½ inch diced
  • ½ small green cabbage*, shaved
  • 2 cloves garlic minced
  • 4 cups vegetable or chicken broth*
  • 4 cups beef broth
  • 2 tablespoons dill fresh, minced
  • 2 tablespoons lemon juice fresh
  • 1 teaspoon lemon zest
  • 1 bay leaf
  • kosher salt to taste
  • black pepper to taste
  • sour cream optional, for serving

Instructions 

  1. Add olive oil to a soup pot and set over medium-high heat. When the oil is hot, add in the beets, carrots, potatoes, and cabbage. Stir to combine.
  2. Cook for 10 minutes to slightly soften the vegetables.
  3. Add in the garlic and saute for 30 seconds or until fragrant.
  4. Pour in the beef and the vegetable broth and add the bay leaf. Simmer for 20-25 minutes or until the beets and carrots are tender.
  5. Discard bay leaf. Stir in the fresh dill, lemon juice, and lemon zest. Taste and season with the desired amount of kosher salt and black pepper.
  6. Serve with a dollop of sour cream on top.

 

Simple solutions to the dinner dilemma

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By Julia Howard

 

While there are usually easy meal solutions for breakfast and lunch, simple, healthy dinner ideas are challenging. Finding a recipe your family will enjoy is only a part of the struggle. We crave a quick fix for dinner, a wholesome meal that doesn’t take hours to prepare and cook and won’t require piles of dishes. The Saratoga Farmers’ Market has meal motivation and locally sourced ingredients to get you through these dinner difficulties.

 

Sheet Pan Dinners

For an effortless, delicious meal with minimal cleanup, sheet pan dinners are one of our favorite approaches to dinner. Choose your favorite seasonal vegetable(s) and pair it with a protein like chicken, pork, or beef. Think steak with Brussels sprouts and potatoes, sausages with apples and carrots, or chicken with mushrooms and leeks. The internet has many ideas, and finding the right ingredients is super simple between your pantry and the farmers’ market.

Farmers’ Market Frittatas

Frittatas can be very easy to make and are a great way to clean out your refrigerator. Ingredients include eggs, vegetables, fresh herbs (optional, and returning to the market in Feb.), cheese, and bacon or sausage – or omit for a vegetarian option. Simply sautee the vegetables, add cooked bacon and herbs, pour whisked eggs over the mixture, top with cheese, and broil for 3-4 minutes. We love M&A Farm’s recipe, and remember that you can put just about anything in your frittata.

Carrot and ginger soup, photo by Pattie Garrett

Simple Soups

Soups are one of the most satisfying, healthy, and easy one-pot meals. Simply chop up your vegetables, sautee the aromatics (leeks, onions, carrots, garlic, but the list goes on), add chicken or vegetable stock and simmer, then puree or leave chunky depending on the soup and your preference of texture. Some ideas are vegetable soup, potato and leek soup, mushroom soup, and butternut squash soup.

Beef Stew

Slow Cooker & Instant Pot Meals

Slow cookers and Instant Pots have turned complicated, time-consuming meals into one-pot wonders. A quick Google search can reveal recipes from tacos to pot roasts to soups and stews. Once your ingredients are in the pot, you typically don’t need to pay attention to them until the meal is cooked and ready to serve. 

The Saratoga Farmers’ Market is open on Saturdays from 9:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. in the Wilton Mall Food Court. Find us online at www.saratogafarmersmarket.org, where you can sign up for our weekly newsletter, and follow us on Facebook and Instagram @SaratogaFarmersMarket.

Satisfying soups from scratch

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By Julia Howard

 

The cold winter months call for hot, comforting foods, so just in time for National Soup Month, the Saratoga Farmers’ Market is showing some love for soup. There are infinite combinations of stocks, vegetables, and proteins that, when simmered together, create flavorful and lively liquids that make us feel nourished and satisfied.

Making soup from scratch can be a simple process with satisfying results. While there are culinary rules to follow for specific recipes, soups allow creativity in the kitchen and when shopping for ingredients. We recommend strolling through the farmers’ market for fresh, in-season ingredients.

First, let’s talk about aromatics – combinations of vegetables, herbs, and meats that are the foundation of your soup. Some options are onions, carrots, leeks, mushrooms, garlic, sweet potatoes, and squash. Vendors’ tables have even more stored vegetables. Chicken breast, veal, goat, and beef stew meat are excellent options for protein. Let your palette guide you, and build a soup with what you love.

Photo provided by SFMA

 

Sautée aromatics in fat like olive oil, coconut oil, or butter. If beef, goat, or veal are on your ingredients list, brown this first over medium-high heat and set aside. You may cook vegetables and herbs together, adding minced garlic once the vegetables soften. If using chicken breast, cook it along with the vegetables. Embrace the mouthwatering smells during this process.

Next, add stock and water and perhaps some diced hydroponic tomatoes. Bone broth is available at the farmers’ market, or use any broth of your choice. Allow the mixture to simmer for about 20-25 minutes. The vegetables should be tender, and the meat, if used, should be thoroughly cooked. At this point, you can adjust the taste with salt and pepper.

Shushan Valley Hydro Farms & Underwood’s Greenhouses, photo by Madison Jackson

How about some health-building greens like kale, chard, or Chinese cabbage? Greens pack flavor and nutrients into homemade soups and should be added in the last 5-10 minutes of cooking to soften but maintain their texture.

Building a soup can be fulfilling using what’s available from local farms at the farmers’ market. Perhaps you have something specific in mind, like your mom’s chicken noodle soup or a borscht recipe on your favorite food blog – visit the farmers’ market for all your soup-making needs.

The Saratoga Farmers’ Market is open on Saturdays from 9:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. in the Wilton Mall Food Court. Find us online at www.saratogafarmersmarket.org, where you can sign up for our weekly newsletter, and follow us on Facebook and Instagram @SaratogaFarmersMarket.

Mexican Street Corn Soup

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Adapted from the recipe by Amanda Biddle at stripedspatula.com

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 45 minutes

Total Time: 1 hour

Ingredients

*Ingredients currently available at the farmers’ market

  • 1/4 cup vegetable oil
  • 8 ears of corn*, shucked and kernels cut from the cobs (save 6 cobs for simmering)
  • 1 yellow onion*, chopped
  • ¼ teaspoon of ancho chili powder (you can add more or less depending on how spicy you like it also paprika and cumin work in a pinch)
  • Kosher salt and black pepper
  • 2 large garlic cloves*, chopped
  • 4 cups chicken or vegetable broth
  • 1/2 cup sour cream
  • 1/2 cup grated dry/aged Cotija cheese (can sub parmesan or romano*)
  • Juice of 1 lime
  • 1 teaspoon lemon zest
  • 2 tablespoons plus 2 teaspoons chopped cilantro*, divided

Instructions

  1. Heat oil in a large nonstick pot. Add corn kernels, chopped onion, chili powder, 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt, and 1/2 teaspoon black pepper. Cook over medium-high heat, stirring frequently until onions are soft and corn is lightly charred in spots; this should be about 8-10 minutes.
  2. Add garlic and cook for about 1 minute, or until fragrant. Remove 1-1/2 cups of corn mixture from the pot and set aside in a small bowl. Stir broth and add 6 stripped corn cobs into the pot, scraping the brown bits on the bottom. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer for 20 minutes.
  3. Using tongs, remove the corn cobs from the bowl and discard.
  4. Add the sour cream and cheese. After stirring it together, transfer the soup to a blender (you may have to do this in multiple batches) and blend until smooth.
  5. Transfer soup back into the pot, reheating it to your desired temperature. Stir in half the reserved corn, lime juice, and 2 tablespoons of cilantro. You can now season the soup with salt, pepper, and chili powder (or if subbing, your cumin and paprika).
  6. In the small bowl, toss the remaining corn with lime zest and cilantro. Serve the soup, topped with extra cheese and corn mixture (I like to add sour cream as well!).

Cream of Asparagus Soup

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Adapted from the recipe by Erin Clarke of wellplated.com

Makes 4 servings

Prep time: 15 min

Cook time: 20 min

Ingredients

  • 3 slices bacon*(optional)
  • 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 cup finely chopped yellow onion* or shallot
  • 2 medium yellow potatoes*, peeled and cut into 1/2-inch dice
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 3 cups low-sodium vegetable broth or chicken broth
  • 2 pounds asparagus*, trimmed and cut into 1-inch pieces
  • 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1/2 cup Greek yogurt*, plus additional for serving (do not use fat-free or it may curdle and the soup will not be as creamy)

Instructions

  1. If serving with bacon, prepare it by frying it in a skillet on the stovetop or baking it in the oven. Crumble or dice and set aside.
  2. Heat olive oil in a Dutch oven or similar medium/large saucepan over medium heat. Add onions and potatoes and cook, stirring occasionally until the onions begin to soften, about 2 to 3 minutes. Add the garlic and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add the broth, asparagus, salt, and pepper. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer until the vegetables are tender, 10 to 15 minutes.
  3. With an immersion blender, puree the soup until smooth. (You can also carefully transfer it to a blender or food processor in batches and blend it that way. Be careful as hot soup tends to splatter!) Return the blended soup to the pot and let cool a few minutes. Stir in the Greek yogurt, then season to taste with additional salt and pepper. Remember that if you are adding the bacon on top, it will also be salty, so be careful not to add too much.
  4. Serve hot, topped with crumbled bacon, a sprinkle of fresh chives, and an extra dollop of Greek yogurt as desired.

Notes

  • To make it vegetarian, omit the bacon. To make it vegan, omit the Greek yogurt or swap for non-dairy yogurt and omit the bacon.

 

*Ingredients currently available at the farmers’ market