~ Dandelion Leek Miso ~
Ran across this and thought I would share…
This recipe idea is great for areas with wild leeks and other wild crafted plants
What is Needed…
– Tub of unpasteurized Red miso or Mugi miso, organic or make your own, which can take 6 months to a year in most cases.
Hint: You can do a mix a sweet miso & hearty miso, too! The amount of miso used will determine the amount of the other ingredients.
– Fresh Spring Wild Leeks (Allium tricoccum, some know them as Ramps). The leeks can have a strong taste if harvested at the right time, so adjust accordingly. About a 1/8th of the volume of miso, you want the flavor, but, not to overpower the miso.
– Dandelion Greens. Young leaves are best as they are not as bitter as older leaf. Harvest before flowering. Same amount/ratio as the leeks. Some stores sell the greens, too
– Fresh or Dried Stinging Nettles (Uritica dioica). Here in Michigan you should be able to harvest at the same time as the leeks. I have a spot that has both growing together!
– Optional Sea Veggies. Like kombu or wakamé seaweed.
Directions…
Since wild ingredients can very in taste and flavour during the season, I suggest mixing up a small tester batch and adjust ingredients as needed and to your liking.
Since the miso is already made, click here on how to make your own misos , we will start with the other ingredients.
Once you have collected or purchased all the items needed you ready to go!
– Start by cleaning the Leeks: Removing the leaves and roots, leaving the clean bulbs
– Dandelion greens: Remove the centre steam keeping the green part of the leaf,
– Nettle leaf: Cut off any steams. Hint: you can remove the ‘stinging’ aspect by blanching or steaming the leaf for a few seconds
– Soak the sea vegetables if dried.
Now cut all ingredients into small pieces and mix together.
Add greens and sea veggies to the miso paste.
Taste and adjust. Add salt if needed, however, the miso will have a lot of salt already.
The miso blend will ferment the other items and flavour will improve over time. Suggest allowing the miso mix to set in the refrigerator for 3 to 6 months, if you can wait that long.
~ Fermented Garlic Scapes ~
Here is another quick recipe for use of all the garlic scapes, if you grow garlic you will know what I mean!
Use fermented garlic scapes in any recipe to add a delicious mild garlic flavour! Fermented garlic scapes enhance your recipes without overpowering other more delicate flavours.
What is Needed…
– Fresh organic garlic scapes, cleaned and diced into small pieces or use a food processor. Do not overwork and turn scapes into a paste. Leave it a bit chunky.
– Organic sunflower oil, cold pressed. 1 to 2 tbsp per 8oz of diced scapes.
– Lactic starter or use wild yeast fermentation
– Salt to taste
Directions…
Mix the diced garlic scapes with the oil and salt.
Add the lactic starter (This can come from other ferments liquids, like kraut or just use wild yeast fermentation.)
– Once fermentation is to your liking, about 5 to 10 days or more. If you like the taste, finish with 1 to 2 teaspoons of organic apple cider vinegar or to taste.
Once the fermentation process is finished, pack into jars and store in the refrigerator. Hint: Smaller jars will keep the FGS fresher.
Use as a spread or garnish for your favorite snacks, with fresh bread, or even on pizza.
Enjoy!
~ Pickled Wild Leek Relish ~
One of my favorite ways to use and preserve leeks for use all season long! The relish condiment works as a topping, great with fresh bread, or added during plating a dish.
Quick and easy, and so good!
What is Needed…
As the leeks are very strong in taste and flavor, you will use more white onions vs. leeks. If you were to use only wild leeks, it will be much too strong. I found this out on the first try with only leeks and vinegar…to much!
– White onions, organic, peeled and diced into very small pieces or use a food processor (do not overwork)
– Smaller amount of fresh leek bulbs, wild crafted, depending on flavour.
– A red bell pepper, organic
– White vinegar or rice wine vinegar, organic
– Salt to taste
Directions…
– Peel and dice white onions into very small pieces.
– Clean and peel wild leeks. Remove tops and roots, leaving nice
clean white bulbs
– Depending on the size; use about a ¼ of the red bell pepper,
diced finely.
The bell pepper is more to give a bit of colour over flavor.
– Mix the three together in a ratio of 80% white onion, 15% wild
leeks, & 4% bell pepper.
Taste the mixture and adjust the amount of leeks to onions until you have a flavor you like. Add salt and vinegar (About 1% of mixture) to taste. As with any pickled foods, the product should have a vinegar bite, but not to much to over power the other flavors. The acid content should read at pH 4.5 or a little lower. The correct range test strip can be purchased here. Allow to set at room temperature for a few days, taste again and adjust ingredients to your liking.
Once complete pack into jars, cap, and place in refrigerator.
Enjoy! and Happy Fermenting… Live, Grow, Share Cultured Foods
