As spring creeps in, farmers markets will start to have new vegetables that invite shoppers to try something new. Spring alliums — including scallions, spring onions, and green garlic — are among the first to mark the new season!
These versatile vegetables lend a fresh, peppery flavor and can spice up almost any dish.
Stir fry is a classic Asian dish that’s known for its rich, bold flavors, and its colorful blend of vegetables and can easily be customized to personal preference. To begin, select your assortment of vegetables. Traditionally, stir fry includes carrots, mushrooms, bean sprouts, scallions, broccoli, and cabbage, but you can customize it to what’s currently being offered at the market, including kale, chard, turnips, fennel, or radishes.
Once you’ve selected your vegetable assortment, chop them up into bite-sized pieces. Heat a wok (a deep, round-bottom cooking pan) or a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add one tablespoon of oil and sauté vegetables for two or three minutes or until tender. In a small bowl, whisk together one-third cup of soy sauce, three cloves of garlic (minced), two tablespoons honey, two teaspoons sesame oil, one-half cup of chicken or vegetable broth, and one tablespoon cornstarch until you get a thick consistency. Add the mix to the vegetables and mix together until all the vegetables are marinated. Serve the stir fry on top of rice and enjoy!
You can find scallions from Highgate Farm and Lee’s One Fortune Farm (River Arts District and Asheville City markets). Lee’s One Fortune also has Chinese broccoli and broccoli rabe. Look for carrots from Stump Farms (Asheville City Market) or Smallholding Farm (Weaverville Tailgate Market). Get mushrooms from Black Trumpet Farm (River Arts District and North Asheville markets) or The Forest Farmacy (Asheville City Market). Want to add meat to your stir fry? Find pork from Sugar Hollow Farm (River Arts District Farmers Market) or Dry Ridge Farm (Asheville City Market) or chicken from Wild East Farm chicken (River Arts District Farmers Market).
Markets are also stocked with a variety, rice, pasta, pastries, drinks, and prepared foods. Find more details about farms and markets throughout the region, including winter hours, in ASAP’s online Local Food Guide.
Written by Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project.