Mar 17th 2017 - J. Vigotsky Blog,

Spring Menu Ideas

outdoor dining

With the official start of spring only a few days away, it’s only a matter of time before diners emerge from winter hibernation and descend upon their restaurants of choice. The arrival of spring also means a wide assortment of healthy and delicious green vegetables will be in-season. Welcome customers in from the cold by offering a spring menu that features foods like, asparagus, broccoli, artichokes, and more!

Asparagus

Ancient Egyptians first started cultivating asparagus for medical use over 2,000 years ago. Those Egyptians might have been on to something, as it’s since been proven that asparagus offers an abundance of nutritional value. Boasting Vitamin A, E, K, and B6, asparagus also contains zinc, iron, fiber, folate, niacin, thiamin, riboflavin, and more! All this adds up to reduce oxidative damage, help blood clot, prevent liver disease, and improve eye and heart health (1). Asparagus is in-season from February-June, with April being the absolute peak of asparagus season (2). Here are a few tasty asparagus-based dishes that your customers will love:

Shaved Asparagus Pizza

shaved asparagus pizza

A new spin on an old classic, asparagus pizza is a refreshing and nutrient-filled treat for pizza lovers. The shaved asparagus cooks perfectly into the pizza, and the olive oil gives helps the pie bake to a crispy golden-brown. Perfect for cheese lovers, this pizza is made with gorgonzola instead of traditional tomato or marinara sauce. Serving 3-4 people, this shaved asparagus pizza should take no longer than 30 minutes to prep and cook. These are the required ingredients for the pizza:

3/4 lb of asparagus
6 scallions, diced (both whites and most of the greens)
2 tablespoons olive oil, divided
Cornmeal, for dough
1 ball of pizza dough
1 clove garlic, minced
4 ounces mozzarella cheese, shredded
2 ounces gorgonzola, crumbled

For detailed instructions on how to cook this shaved asparagus pizza, reference Naturally Ella’s recipe page.

Crispy Parmesan Asparagus Sticks

Coating asparagus sticks with appetizing Parmesan cheese and crunchy Panko bread crumbs creates mouth-watering treats that can be served as appetizers or side dishes. Great alternatives to French fries, Parmesan asparagus sticks are deliciously addictive while also providing nutritional value. The following ingredients are all you need to cook crispy parmesan asparagus sticks for a party of two:

1 bunch of asparagus (About 30 spears)
2 egg whites
1/4 cup flour
1 cup seasoned panko breadcrumbs
1/4 cup Parmesan cheese (Grated)
Salt and pepper

This WikiHow article details every step to preparing and cooking crispy parmesan asparagus sticks.

Broccoli

Belonging to the cruciferous vegetable family, broccoli is native to the Mediterranean and has been used by Italians since the Roman Empire (3). The leafy green vegetable offers an assortment of health benefits, as it’s been linked to reduced risk of obesity, diabetes, cancer, and heart disease (4). The large amount of Vitamin K found in broccoli helps improve bone density, and the vegetable’s natural Vitamin A, C, and E help reduce wrinkles and help skin remain vibrant. Although broccoli is available throughout the year, its peak season is from October-April (5). Here are a few interesting broccoli-based dishes that can help attract customers to your restaurant:

Broccoli Hummus

A delicious dip that goes well with chips, vegetables, and pita bread, traditional hummus features chickpeas as its primary ingredient. Although broccoli hummus still uses chick peas as its secondary ingredient, it calls for broccoli to be the dish’s main attraction. A refreshing and healthier alternative to traditional hummus, broccoli hummus is a novelty that your customers are sure to crave more of. The following ingredients yield 2 Cups of broccoli hummus:

2 cups broccoli florets, chopped
2 tablespoons tahini paste
2 tablespoons olive oil, extra-virgin
3 tablespoons water
2 tablespoons lime juice, (or lemon juice)
2 cloves garlic
1 1/2 cups cooked chickpeas, or one 14-ounce can
2 teaspoons nutritional yeast flakes, optional
1/4 teaspoon cumin
1/2 teaspoon sea salt

For detailed preparation instructions, check out the original recipe at Healthiersteps.com.

Broccoli Fritters

broccoli fritters

A great way for family restaurants to provide a vegetable dish to kids, broccoli fritters are tasty fried treats that can be served as appetizers or during breakfast. Since the fritters also contain eggs, diners will be getting protein as well. These broccoli fritters go great with some yogurt dipping sauce on the side. Here are the ingredients required to make 6 small fritters:

3 cups broccoli florets and stem (about 1 medium head of broccoli), roughly chopped into 1 inch pieces
2 tbsp oil (vegetable, olive oil, canola)

Batter

1 garlic clove, minced
½ cup plain flour
¼ cup grated parmesan
1 egg
2 tbsp milk (low fat or full fat)
½ tsp salt
Black pepper

To see comprehensive instructions, view the original directions at Recipeineats.com.

Artichokes

One of the most antioxidant-rich foods on the planet, artichokes are superfoods that offer a wide variety of health benefits (6). The vegetable is native to the Mediterranean region and can help boost immune support while preventing cancer and heart disease. Artichokes also have an abundance of other health benefits—including digestive support and improved cognitive functioning. Make sure to take advantage of peak artichoke season—March-May (7)—by trying some of the creative artichoke-based recipes listed below:

Stuffed Artichokes

Stuffing and seasoning artichokes with cheese and spices can add dynamic flavor to a food that many people consider a little bitter. A hearty and healthy appetizer, these stuffed artichokes take over an hour to cook. Consequently, it’s important to prepare and cook them prior to your restaurant’s rush. Holding cabinets and drawer warmers are especially useful for keeping cooked stuffed artichokes warm before serving. Below is a delicious recipe for stuffed artichokes:

6 whole artichokes
3 slices Italian bread, cubed
1 clove garlic, minced
1/8 cup chopped fresh parsley
1/4 cup grated Romano cheese
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
5 tablespoons vegetable oil, divided
Salt and pepper to taste

Check out this link to allrecipes.com for detailed cooking instructions.

Roasted Artichoke Hearts

Artichoke hearts are widely considered to be the best tasting part of the artichoke. The simple recipe below does not require much but provides delicious results:

1 (15 oz.) can of artichoke hearts, drained and patted dry
1 tablespoon olive oil
2 sprigs thyme, leaves stripped
Sea salt and pepper, to taste

Reference cookforyourlife.org for comprehensive cooking directions.

Make sure to leave a good impression on your customers this spring by offering delicious dishes based on vegetables that are currently in-season. We carry an assortment of kitchen hand tools that can help your prepare any of the aforementioned meals. Our offerings include measuring cups, measuring spoons, garlic presses, and whips. We also offer a large selection of kitchen cutlery and cutting boards.