Fairest of the Fall

Gnocchi are easily made deliciously chewy dumplings that are part mashed potato, part pasta.  They’re particularly tasty simply browned and crisped in butter. Tender spinach is puréed into a bright green sauce scented with fragrant nutmeg. Orach is an ancient vegetable with a savory mineral flavor like spinach and chard. Its microgreens and tender leaves pair beautifully with earthy potatoes.

Simple techniques elevate broccoli and cauliflower in this delicious side dish. Smooth white cauliflower purée and chickpea flour make gluten-and dairy-free yet memorably crisp fritters. Briefly cooked broccoli is smoothly puréed into a bright green sauce with lots of mellowed garlic.

Spring dawns and with it an awakening of our mood and senses. Shoots and leaves are emerging, and we’re greeted by a host of fresh vegetables rearing their heads after a long winter. It’s always a joy to see the first rhubarb, delicate peas, spring leeks, and asparagus. It’s also a time to savour spring treasures that are in more fleeting supply—such as fiddleheads, ramps, (delicate, yet spicy) salad turnips, and nettles. It’s like greeting old friends you haven’t seen in a while, a chance to savour their abundance and the health benefits they provide. Spring is a symbolic new beginning, which makes it a great time to learn something new in the kitchen. Whether it’s tackling an artichoke, something that always seemed too daunting, or finally experimenting with a vegetable you’ve admired but never dared to try, read on. Now’s the perfect time. These six spring-inspired recipes will help you get creative in the kitchen while helping you celebrate the bounty of nature. Welcome the optimism that spring brings.

In spring, a different kind of turnip is available: a small, round, golf ball-shaped Hakurei turnip, often referred to as a salad turnip. These are lovely and crisp when eaten raw but can also be lightly sautéed and infused with flavour. In this dish, the turnips are first stir-fried and then coated in a dressing of miso, ginger, garlic, and honey before tossing with some spring salad leaves. Choose leaves that will stand up to the warmth of the salad, like a young mustard green mix including leaves such as tatsoi and mizuna. Keep the greens Turnip greens, especially the tender ones from spring turnips, can be steamed or prepared in a similar fashion to spinach, so be sure to reserve the greens and use them in another dish.