Spring is here (finally!) in Maryland. All of our mystery bulbs are popping up in our new yard, a daffodil here, a crocus there, the weather is warming up, and my husband is busy planning and plotting our future vegetable garden. All this fresh air (ahem, rain) has made me really crave some leafy greens and hearty soups. I may have gone a little greens-crazy at my recent grocery run… With the garden in bloom and planting on my mind, I’ve been trying to focus more on eating seasonally. Not only is it yummier to eat produce in season and better for the environment, it’s also healthier—all those fruits and veggies are perfectly, naturally ripe and full of nutrients.
When looking for information about what’s sustainable in my area, I found Sustainable.org, which lets you search by location and breaks down season foods bi-monthly. Fresh in early- and late-March in Maryland: greens, mint, mushrooms, morels (also a mushroom, but I assume Sustainable.org agrees with me that they’re delicious enough to warrant their own category), and nettles. I highly recommend checking out this resource for what’s fresh in your area!
For information on seasonal foods in all of North America, check out Eat the Seasons, which is updated every week and also features recipes, wine suggestions, and information about buying, storing, and preparing seasonal ingredients. Eat the Seasons’ list for seasonal foods in North America in March includes: broccoli, celery root, fennel, kale, leeks, potatoes, sunchoke (aka jerusalem artichoke), turnips, blood oranges, grapefruit, kiwi, pineapple, clams, crab, mussels.
You can also tack on brussels sprouts, cauliflower, parsnips, sweet potatoes, and, in some areas, asparagus and peas. I also love Cookie + Kate’s monthly “What’s in Season” guides and recipe roundups. Check out her post about What’s in Season? March Produce. And if you want some extra information about your spring greens, check out Fitness Magazine’s guide to knowing your greens, Get to Know Your Greens, with some information about and recipes for lesser-known greens and how to prep them.
Here are some of my tried-and-true recipes that feature March seasonal produce. I’ve made and loved these recipes from some of my favorite bloggers. So much yum!
- Brown Sugared Carrots – Martha Stewart
- Kale and Blood Orange Salad – A House in the Hills
- Ribollita – Feasting at Home
- Asparagus Gruyere Tart – Martha Stewart
- Spicy Kale and Coconut Stir Fry – Cookie + Kate
- Spring Vegetable Pot Pie – Feasting at Home
- 5 Minute Magic Green Sauce – Pinch of Yum
- Mussels in Lemon Butter Wine Sauce – Chew Out Loud
- Chunky Portabella Burgers – The Kitchen Whisperer
- Lillet Rose Spring Cocktail – Martha Stewart
Here is some inspiration from my favorite bloggers that I haven’t had a chance to try… yet! But, man, these look good.
- Spring Green Soup with Parsnip Fries – The Awesome Green
- Wild Mushroom Pate – Smitten Kitchen
- Spring Pea and Farro Soup – Food52
- Broccoli Cheddar Quiche – Go Eat and Repeat
- Mushroom Stuffed Potato Cakes – Imagelicious
- Chimichurri Sauce – Gimme Some Oven
- Asparagus and Sweet Potato Hash with Chimichurri – A House in the Hills
- Roasted Fingerling Potatoes and Brussels Sprouts – Oh She Glows
- Kale Salad with Avocado Tahini Sauce – Love and Lemons
- Celeriac, Apple, Lentil Salad – Feasting at Home
XO,
Karo
Field Notes on Feasting 