dip Tag

Radishes are one of the first crops to pop up in the spring—a sign that warm days are coming and heavy winter eating is coming to an end. They’ve got a crisp crunch and bright spice, but somehow still have a root-crop earthiness about them.

Crudités is just a fancy way of saying raw, bite-sized vegetables served with a dipping sauce. In this recipe, that slightly spicy bite of the French breakfast radish pairs perfectly with creamy and salty feta. 

Radish Crudités with Creamy Feta Dip

– Wash and cut the greens off 1 bunch French Breakfast Radishes. (Reserve greens for another use.)

– In a food processor, combine:
1 cup crumbled feta cheese
1/2 cup plain yogurt
juice of 1 lemon
2 minced garlic cloves (or two stalks green garlic)
a handful of chopped chives (or scallions)
pepper (to taste)

– Pulse ingredients into a creamy consistency.  Serve as a dip for radishes and other raw veggies.

Alternatively, you can make a thicker spread with a pop of color by mixing a ½ bunch of grated radishes into the feta dip. Serve on top of a piece of crusty bread or (in my case) some gluten-free crackers.

Text and photography by Kate Darlington – Blooming Glen Farm second year intern, Colorado native, and food lover.

With an abundance of summer squash rolling in from the fields every week, we figured you might need a few more creative recipe ideas to keep things interesting with this versatile veggie.

This first recipe is a roasted zucchini dish that was inspired by my time spent on the Aegean coast of Turkey. The combination of lightly cooked veggies, yogurt, raw garlic and fresh herbs is a staple “mezze” (small tapas style) dish that can be found on any Turkish dinner table. Since the Turks rarely cook their garlic, this dish normally packs a bit of garlicky heat. The fresh green garlic you are getting from the share will have a more mild and subtle raw garlic flavor so don’t shy away from it. You can eat this as a simple side dish or put it in the food processor to use as a dip with cucumber and pita (which is what I did here).

Zucchini Salad with Yogurt (Yogurtlu Kabak Salatasi)


-Preheat oven to 400 degrees

-Chop 2-3 medium sized summer squash (zucchini or yellow squash) into cubes and toss with a few tablespoons of olive oil and a dash of salt.

-Spread on baking sheet and roast for 15 minutes or so until squash is tender and slightly caramelized. Let cool slightly.

-Put squash into food processor with:

1-2 cloves of green garlic
1/2 cup of greek style yogurt
a handful of herbs (dill, parsley, and mint all work nicely)
the juice from half a lemon

-Salt to taste and sprinkle with feta cheese.  Serve with a dipper like cucumbers or pita bread.

**If you want it a bit chunkier to serve as a side dish, just pulse the above ingredients in the food processor and fold it into the roasted squash cubes.

Baked Summer Squash Frittata

This “frittata” is remarkably simple and makes a delicious light lunch alongside a salad. It also keeps great in the fridge and can be reheated for breakfast the next day. Since it is made with yogurt, flour and baking powder it isn’t a classic frittata. However, I find this recipe to be much lighter than other varieties made with only eggs. As the season progresses, you can add in other ingredients (like cherry tomatoes!) for a different variation on this brunch favorite.

-Preheat oven to 375 degrees

-Lightly oil a cast-iron pan or pie dish

-In a large bowl, mix:

3 cups of grated summer squash
1 sweet onion
2 gloves of green garlic, minced
4 eggs
1/2 cup feta cheese
1/2 cup of yogurt
1/4 cup olive oil
1 1/2 cups of flour
2 teaspoons of baking powder
a handful of herbs (parsley, dill, chives, etc)
salt and pepper to taste

-Pour into greased pan and bake for 35-45 minutes (or until golden brown on the top). Let cool and serve along size a big dollop of sour cream or yogurt.

ENJOY!

Recipe and photos by Jana Smart- Blooming Glen Farm employee and frequent creator of creative recipes using farm fresh seasonal ingredients. Check out more of her recipes on her food blog http://www.agrarianeats.blogspot.com/