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Ingredient Mon Mar 22 2010
First Sign of Spring: Wild Leeks (Ramps)
It seems earlier than the last few years, but the wild leeks are already starting to come up in forest preserves. Maybe it's the burst of warmth last week. We spotted a large number of tender shoots pushing through the fallen oak leaves as we took a short stroll Sunday afternoon. The ground was so muddy in parts given all the snow that fell on Saturday we almost didn't dare stepping off the main trail, but after seeing patches of wild leeks, we couldn't resist.
The shoots must have come up just a day or two before--they were completely clear of any dirt, and were incredibly soft to the touch. Melting snow had left dew drops on some of them, which sparkled in the late afternoon sun that peeked through the clouds after a mostly gray weekend. We collected just a handful of leeks, determined to return for more later in the week. Paired with lemon scallops and curried rice, wild reeks was a welcome emblem of coming spring on our dinner table last night.
