Expert Contributor: Spring into Spring Cooking

by Christopher Heath, Corporate Chef, Paxos Restaurants / Firepoint Grill

Spring brings a wonderful energy, always making its return with excitement. The coming of spring means that some of the best, freshest ingredients will soon be ready and available. A refreshment and vibrance is brought to a dish after working with more hearty and heavy ingredients through the winter months.

Some unique spring ingredients include ramps, green garlic scapes, fiddlehead ferns, spring onion, sugar snap peas, fava beans, white asparagus, morel mushrooms, strawberries, and rhubarb, to name a few. Kitchens all over will be busy pickling ramps, making green garlic salt, shelling peas and fava beans, making pastries with fresh strawberries, and serving patioworthy features.

Chefs get to experiment with all of these fun spring ingredients in their kitchens, but you don’t need a chef ’s coat to take advantage of these seasonal flavors!

A great place to start: Seasonal farmers markets

This time of year, weekend farmers markets pop up everywhere from local parks to downtown streets, showcasing the best and freshest ingredients. Visit with an open mind and let the produce inspire your recipes for the week.

Once you are stocked with fresh ingredients, consider spring’s favorite cooking tool: the grill. A hard wood charcoal grill gives smoky flavors to seasonal recipes, like chicken thighs seasoned with green garlic salt and a blast of ramp butter… yum.

Ready to take on spring cooking?

Fire up your grill and prepare the seasonings for this crowd-pleasing seasonal meal.

Step 1: Make the Garlic Salt

Collect approximately 4 bunches of garlic scrapes (the flowering stalk of the garlic plant; about 50 stalks) and roughly chop. Place in a food processor with 2 cups of Kosher Salt and blend until well incorporated, causing the salt to turn bright green. Spread the wet salt out on a sheet tray and place in a low 225° oven. Check every 10 minutes, baking the salt until it is dry. When the salt is cooled, store in airtight containers.

Step 2: Make the Ramp Butter

Begin with 1 pound of cleaned and trimmed ramps. Blanch them in boiling salted water, then quickly place in an ice bath. Finely chop the ramps, and place them in a food processor with 1 pound of unsalted butter and the zest and juice of 1 lemon. Pulse until well blended. (Be careful not to overmix!) Season to taste with salt and pepper. Roll into logs between parchment paper. Store in the refrigerator or freezer.

With your homemade toppings prepared, you can quickly sprinkle some of your new garlic salt on chicken thighs, cook them on the grill and serve them with a ramp butter topping. Prepare to wow your guests… and your taste buds!

Firepoint Grill

Firepoint Grill, a Paxos Restaurant, showcases an open kitchen with a wood-fired grill, Firepoint offers an eclectic menu filled with rich, natural flavors. Enjoy garden-fresh cocktails, seasonal craft beers, and diverse wines alongside our chef-inspired menu in a warm, inviting atmosphere.

• Wood-Fired Pizzas • Weekday Happy Hour • Signature Cocktails

484-428-3093

3739 West Chester Pike, Newtown Square

www.FirepointGrill.com