Rough Draft Atlanta is partnering with Community Farmers Markets to let you know what’s in season at your local market. Each week, we’ll share a list of ingredients that are farm fresh, along with a couple of recipes that include those products.
Here’s what you’ll find in the way of produce at the farmers market this week: Sweet potatoes, apples, pears, okra, eggplant, peppers (sweet peppers, poblano, shishito), beans, tomatoes, muscadine grapes, persimmons, cucumbers, zucchini, squash, melons, pumpkins, butternut squash, candy roaster squash, arugula, kale, collards, mustards, kohlrabi, beets, bok choy, lettuce/mixed greens, microgreens, gourmet mushrooms (oyster, lion’s mane, shiitake), herbs (chives, green onions, cilantro, basil, tulsi), and sweet potato greens.
Look for these specialty items: Foraged foods, pecans, smoked salmon and trout, flowers, plant starts, pastured pork, wild caught shrimp, eggs, goat + sheep cheese, milk, jam, chocolate, honey, oils, tea blends, cold pressed juices, hot sauce, vinegars, nut butters, spice blends, ghee, pickles, pasta, tortillas, apple cider, and bone broth.
Atlanta non-profit Community Farmers Markets (CFM) has been building community through farmers markets since 2011. Operating weekly outdoor farmers markets as well as rotating farm stands are strategies by which the organization addresses food access in Atlanta. CFM also offers educational programming in the community, financial incentives to make local food more affordable, and professional development for small businesses.
See y’all at the farmers market!
Beet Poke Recipe:
Ingredients:
For the Beets:
- 2 medium beets, peeled and cut into ¼-inch cubes
- Water for steaming
Sesame-Ginger Sauce:
- 3 tbsp low-sodium soy sauce
- 2 tbsp rice vinegar
- 1 tbsp sesame oil
- 1 tbsp honey or maple syrup
- 1 tsp fresh grated ginger
- 1 small garlic clove, minced
Assembly:
- Steamed Beets (or any other seasonal vegetable of your choice)
- Toppings of choice (cucumbers, radishes, carrots, edamame, shredded red cabbage)
- Sesame seeds or green onion for garnish
Directions:
- Prep the beets. Peel and cut the beets into ¼-inch cubes for bite-sized pieces.
- Steam until tender. Steam the cubed beets until fork-tender, about 10-15 minutes.
- Make the sauce. While beets are steaming, whisk together soy sauce, rice vinegar, sesame oil, honey, grated ginger, and minced garlic in a small bowl.
- Toss and cool. While beets are still slightly warm, toss them with the sesame-ginger sauce. Let cool before assembling.
- Build your bowl. Add your seasonal vegetable to a bowl, then layer on your chosen toppings.
- Finish strong. Drizzle with additional sauce and toss gently. Garnish with sesame seeds or green onion.
Garlic Chinese 5 Spice Eggplant Recipe:
Ingredients:
- Garlic
- Chinese eggplant (8 total)
- Salt
- Potato or Corn starch
- Sauce ingredients:
- Soy sauce or tamari 3 TB
- Rice vinegar 1 TSP
- Brown Sugar 1 TB
- Chinese 5 Spice 1.5 TSP
Directions:
- Sauce: Combine soy sauce, rice vinegar, sugar, and Chinese five spice, stir and set aside.
- Pick as many garlic cloves as your heart desires and smash them with the flat side of your knife and a firm fist. Peel the skin off and leave whole.
- Chop stems off and either slice eggplants long ways or chop into cube-like sizes.
- Mix eggplants with salt and let it sit for about 10 minutes to draw moisture out. Rinse salt off completely and pat dry.
- Toss eggplants in potato starch and cook in a good drizzle of oil on med-high heat until eggplants and garlic cloves turns golden in color. Turn heat down to low and toss in sauce.
- Cook until sauce thickens and turn off heat immediately. Add toasted sesame seeds and garlic chives on top, and enjoy!
You can also find the recipes for Beet Poke and Garlic Chinese 5 Spice Eggplant on Community Farmers Markets’ Instagram.
