About Our Produce Recipes

Sugar Pie Pumpkins

sugar pie pumpkinsSugar pie pumpkins can be roasted in the oven, and the cooked flesh used in cookies, muffins, pies or biscuits.  One easy winter squash or pumpkin roasting technique is to just wash the squash thoroughly, knock off the stem (or not!), and stick the whole thing in the oven.  Putting it on a roasting dish or pan is a good idea too, as juices can escape while it’s cooking.  Depending on its size, the entire pumpkin  will cook in about an hour; you’ll know it’s done when its easily pierced with a fork.

Remove the cooked squash, halve it, and when cooled, remove the seeds and mash by hand or transfer to a blender or food processor to make a puree.  The skins are edible, so be sure to blend those up too!  Pumpkin puree also freezes well.

Have you tried this recipe? Tell us how it turned out!

Posted on

About Rainbow Carrots

Rainbow carrots: purple carrots, yellow carrots, orange carrotsColorful carrots are not new. Purple and yellow carrots were grown in Afghanistan about 1,000 years ago, but for some reason, as carrots migrated into Europe, orange carrots were preferred, probably because they are more cold-tolerant. In the last 50 years, plant breeders have sought to bring the old varieties back.

Lots of color in produce indicates lots of phytochemicals. The more color you add to your diet, the healthier it is for you. Phytochemicals are compounds found naturally in plants that have only recently been studied in any depth. They are not considered “essential nutrients,” but appear to have effects on many human diseases. There are thousands of phytochemicals, affecting plant characteristics like color, taste and ability to resist diseases or pests. They have many highly complex sounding names that only a scientist could pronounce!

The phytonutrients in these carrots help your body maintain good health. Orange indicates the presence of carotenes which promote healthy eyes. Purple have carotenes plus anthocyanin which help prevent heart disease. Red carrots contain lycopene, just like tomatoes, and they are linked to lower risk of cancers. Yellow have xanthophykks and lutein, both of which help prevent cancer as well.

These carrots are also delightful to the eye! Shred them in salads and slaws, steam them, or dip them raw in hummus or other veggie dip. They can be used any way an orange carrot can, but keep in mind some of them, like the yellow or white carrots, are a little milder in flavor.

Have you tried this recipe? Tell us how it turned out!

Posted on

10 Ways to Enjoy Walla Walla Sweet Onions!

Walla Walla onions

You’ve got to taste these Walla Walla sweet onions to believe them!

Our very own Kia Armstrong (Nash’s sales manager and a super bass player) has put together a great set of cooking tips for using those delicious, succulent Walla Walla sweet onions:

1. Grilled Sweet Onions

Peel and cut onions crosswise into thick slices or into medium-sized chunks. Toss or brush with olive oil, then skewer and grill! Sprinkle with salt or drizzle with sherry or red vinegar and serve with thick slices of raw tomato or other grilled goodies.

2. Roasted Sweet Onions

Peel the sweet onions, toss them with olive or vegetable oil to coat them, sprinkle them with S&P and roast at 375°F until browned and tender, about 30 minutes. Combine with radishes, cauliflower, broccoli or other summer roastables. Leftovers are great with eggs for breakfast or on cold salads for lunch.

3. Sweet Onion & Avocado Salad

Peel and chop Walla Walla and avocado or two. Drizzle with olive oil, a splash of lemon/lime juice, fresh cilantro, dash of ground cumin/cayenne, and salt to taste. Chopped radish, cucumber, sweet corn kernels, or chopped red pepper all make excellent additions.

4. Sweet Onion Raita (Yogurt Salad)

Peel and finely chop onion. Add enough plain yogurt to coat the onions, and season to taste with salt and freshly ground black pepper. Add freshly chopped dill, parsley, mint, and/or cilantro. Serve with grilled meats or salmon.

5. Sweet Onion Rings

Cut onions into thick slices and separate into rings. Dip in buttermilk and dredge in flour seasoned with salt, pepper, and a bit of cayenne. Heat an inch or two of vegetable or organic canola oil in a large, heavy pot until oil is about 350°F. Fry onions rings until golden brown, drain, and season with more salt.

6. Sweet Onion Sandwiches

Spread two slices of bread (white bread is good, but dark rye bread is better) with mayonnaise. Sprinkle each side with chopped parsley or basil, if you like. Place a thick slice of sweet onion on one slice, top with a thick slice of tomato, sprinkle with salt and freshly ground black pepper, and close sandwich with second piece of bread or go open-face.

7. Sweet Onion Taco & Enchilada Topping

Peel and finely chop a sweet onion. Toss with fresh lime juice, add a generous amount of finely chopped cilantro, and season to taste with salt. Add a healthy dollop of this mixture to tacos or on top of enchiladas.

8. Sweet Onion Tossed Salad

Sweet onions are a mild addition to your favorite tossed green salad. They match particularly well with mild Boston lettuce or butter lettuce leaves, cucumber, carrots, and radishes.

9. Onion Egg Scramble

Saute chopped onion on med-high heat until they begin to soften and are caramel colored. Crack egg into pan, season with fresh herbs and S&P, scramble until cooked and enjoy atop a bed of quinoa or favorite toast.

10. Slow Cooked with Ham Hock
Chop an huge onion into the crock pot, add two cups of dried beans and a ham hock, cover with water about two inches above veg/beans, and simmer on low or med heat for 6-8 hours, or until everything is cooked and tender! You can also add spices and fresh herbs, a can of tomatoes, or additional veggies.

Have you tried this recipe? Tell us how it turned out!

Posted on

Ideas for Using Fresh Basil

basil in a basket

What do you do with fresh basil?

  • Pesto is the most common way to use fresh basil. It goes great with fish and pasta.
  • Stuff some sprigs of fresh basil into your favorite olive oil to infuse it.
  • Stack slices of tomato, Mozzarella cheese and a fresh basil leaf and drizzle with Balsamic vinegar.
  • Tomato, Watermelon and Basil Skewers
  • A summer veggie soup with added ribbons of basil has seasonal flair.
  • Chop basil into your favorite salad.
  • Toss whole basil leaves on your favorite pizza when it’s hot out of the oven.
  • Tomato and basil are a match made in seafood heaven.
  • Use aromatic basil to add punch to your everyday side dishes.
  • Basil also goes well with fruit like watermelon, lime, lemon, mango and strawberries.
  • Don’t forget your cocktails! Muddle basil into lemon or berry-based drinks, like daiquiris.

Store basil in a closed plastic or glass container at room temperature.

Have you tried this recipe? Tell us how it turned out!

Posted on

About Bunched Beets with Greens

golden beets, chioggia beets, and red beets bunched with greensBeet greens are often discarded in favor of their roots, which is unfortunate, because they contain a wonderful, earthy flavor and are highly nutritious. Use them as you would chard or spinach.

Beets are very low in cholesterol, and they are a good source of vitamin C, iron, magnesium, folate, potassium, manganese, and dietary fiber. They are especially good for cardiovascular health due to certain unique pigment antioxidants in the root, as well as in the green tops that have been found to protect against coronary artery disease and stroke, and lower cholesterol levels within the body. They are also reputed to provide relief for women from menstrual cramps.

Beet greens have almost twice the potassium of beet roots and higher amounts of beta carotene, an important antioxidant that helps fight numerous diseases. So eating both the root and the greens is especially nutritious—not to mention delicious!

To store beets, separate the leaves from the root, leaving an inch or two of the stems attached to the root. Remove any leaves that are damaged before storing the tops in a loosely wrapped plastic bag or a clean wet dish towel in the crisper section of the refrigerator, for no more than a few days. Roots should also be stored similarly—if left in the crisper unwrapped, they will quickly dehydrate and become soft.

Have you tried this recipe? Tell us how it turned out!

Posted on

Using Fresh Dill

dill, bunched

What’s your favorite use for dill? Let us know in the comments below!

Looking for dill-flavored inspiration? Here are several fantastic uses for dill that you might not have thought of.

  • Add sparkle to a tuna sandwich.
  • Enhance a cold gazpacho soup.
  • Mix 1/4 cup fresh dill with 1/4 cup vinegar, 1 teaspoon sugar, 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1/4 teaspoon black pepper, and 2 tablespoons olive oil. Add 2 sliced cucumbers, 1 cup sliced red onion, and 2 cut-up tomatoes. Toss, and let stand at least 15 minutes before serving.
  • Got a favorite pureed carrot soup recipe? Be sure to garnish it with some delicate dill fronds for a treat that’s not only tasty, but visually appealing.
  • Dill with salmon is a marriage made in heaven. Add finely chopped garlic, too!
  • Add to Greek green salads, with romaine, sliced scallions and crumbled feta.
  • Make your own sourdough bread? Throw in some olives and dill.
  • Chop 1/2 cup dill fine and mix with 2-3 tablespoons butter, salt, and pepper.
  • For an incredible roasted chicken, use a spoon to get dill under the skin of the breasts, thighs, and legs, and massage it around the meat. Stuff some into the cavity of the chicken with lemon slices and garlic.
  • Add to potato soup, or potato salad with lemon and green onion.
  • Add to cole slaw, omelets, lentil dahl, or borscht.
  • Make dill sauce with plain yogurt, mayo, sour cream, garlic, lemon, and salt and pepper.

Have you tried this recipe? Tell us how it turned out!

Posted on

About Purple Sprouting Broccoli

purple sprouting broccoli

Try purple sprouting broccoli while it lasts!

An English heirloom, purple sprouting broccoli is bred for overwintering. It grows slowly throughout the winter and produces lots of purple heads in the spring, giving us the first delicious break from winter roots.

Purple-sprouting broccoli has been found to contain higher contents of antioxidant compounds compared with green broccoli, but tends to show higher sensitivity to cooking treatments. Nash’s purple broccoli is so tender (including the stems!), we recommend cutting it up in a salad for maximum flavor and nutrition.

That said, it is also super delicious roasted, as in this Roasted Purple Broccoli Parmesan recipe.

Have you tried this recipe? Tell us how it turned out!

Posted on

Six Tips for Cooking Dried Beans

Don’t shy away from any great legume just because it’s dried. Here are some preparation suggestions, thanks to The Kitchn.

diana fava beans

Need some inspiration for your bean dishes? Try diana fava beans, the smaller and rounder sibling to the more typical lima bean-shaped windsor fava bean. They’re super tasty!

1. Use as little water as possible. Don’t let the beans get soggy or ultra-soft, because that dilutes their rich pot liquor, the incredibly flavorful liquid that comes off as they cook. Cook them slowly over low heat, only adding water if they start to dry up. Add enough water to just cover the beans, bring them to a boil, then reduce the heat and cook, uncovered, as low as you can.

2. Don’t mess with the beans. Some people add bacon, ham or garlic. However, well-grown heirloom beans have incredible ranges of flavor, nothing like canned beans. Try a couple pots of beans with just salt and pepper. You’ll be surprised at what you taste.

3. Don’t forget the salt! Beans need some salt. They have immense natural flavor, but they need some salt to bring it out, and they absorb quite a bit before it starts show through. Add a teaspoon of salt to the cooking water and more to taste in the last half hour of cooking.

4. Soak the beans. Rinsing dried beans then soaking them overnight in clean water will reduce the cooking time for most beans, although good fresh dried beans are less in need of a soak.

5. Cook dried beans for the right amount of time. Cooking time depends on the bean, but usually you’re looking at about 2-4 hours. Cover with water and simmer on an evening when you’re doing other things. Refrigerate and eat over the next several days.

6. Fresh beans need less cooking time. Freshly hulled beans will cook in about 45 minutes or less.

Have you tried this recipe? Tell us how it turned out!

Posted on

About Cabbage Raab

Eliza with green cabbage raab

We get pretty excited about raabs, especially cabbage raab, at this time of year.

In the spring, we are all getting just a little tired of root vegetables, even if they are delicious. Just in time, the brassicae send up their flowering heads and they are sweet and oh, so tender. We call these shoots “raab,” not to be confused with broccoli rabe, which is actually a variety of broccoli in and of itself.

One of the sweeter raabs that we have at Nash’s is from green cabbage. Other raabs come from various kales, Brussels sprouts, arugula, mizuna and collards. But the cabbage raab seems to put all its natural sugars into its growth in the spring.

Brassicae raabs are thought to detoxify carcinogens and are useful in many forms. Almost all parts (stems, roots, flowers, leaves and seeds) can be used as food. They are crunchy and much sweeter than you would imagine.

Have you tried this recipe? Tell us how it turned out!

Posted on