Currents Spring 2021 Vol 37, No. I | Page 51

Beyond Hamburgers

Beyond Hamburgers

SPRING VEGETABLE TOAST WITH GOAT CHEESE AND HERBS
INGREDIENTS :
2 cups asparagus , cut into 1 ” pieces 1 teaspoon olive oil 1 pinch salt 4 ounces goat cheese 4 tablespoons milk ( or milk substitute ) 2 teaspoons chopped fresh dill
2 teaspoons chopped fresh chives 1 cup shelled peas 4 slices thick , rustic , fresh bread or sourdough bread 4 medium radishes , sliced Sea salt and black pepper
PREP TIME : 10 minutes COOK TIME : 10 minutes SERVINGS : 4 toasts PREPARED BY : Julia R . B .
DIRECTIONS :
1 . Preheat the oven to 200 ° C . Cover a baking sheet with parchment paper ( optional , but good for easy clean up ). 2 . Place the asparagus , olive oil , and 1 pinch of salt on the sheet pan and toss to coat with your hands ( or tongs ). Roast for 8 minutes or until the asparagus is just about cooked . 3 . While the asparagus is cooking , make the goat cheese herb spread . Stir together the goat cheese and milk until it becomes easily spreadable . Stir in the dill and chives . 4 . When the asparagus is just about cooked , remove the sheet pan from the oven and sprinkle the peas on evenly . Put back in the oven and roast for 2 minutes . 5 . While the peas are roasting , toast the bread to your liking in a toaster , stovetop , or the oven . 6 . To build your toasts , spread the goat cheese mixture evenly among the 4 slices of toast . Top with asparagus , peas , and sliced radishes . Sprinkle with sea salt and black pepper . Enjoy !
STORY BEHIND THE RECIPE :
It ’ s asparagus season , and in my home , we savor this period . I was looking for easy lunch recipes to make for my husband and me while he was working from home . This was delicious paired with a leafy salad , and a hit for sure !
An interesting fact about the sustainability of asparagus : in terms of pesticide load , asparagus is listed as part of the Clean 15 on the Environmental Working Group ’ s Shoppers ’ Guide to Pesticides in Produce , with no detectable pesticide residue on 90 percent of samples tested . In terms of water , asparagus doesn ’ t like much , so it stands to reason that compared to a lot of other vegetables , its water footprint is pretty small . And unless it ’ s grown in a hothouse or imported from another coast or hemisphere , its energy requirements would seem to be pretty small , too .
Recipe courtesy of the Rhubarbarians

Hamburger Hacks : DISCOVER THE SECRETS OF HAMBURG

Isemarkt Longing for a grand outdoor market ? The Isemarkt is one of the largest outdoor markets in all of Europe . Its fruitful and delicious smells run right through central Eppendorf . Find everything from local produce to hard-crafted cutting boards . Bring your reusable bags and face masks and enjoy a wonderful stroll through the wonders of the Isemarkt ! ……………………. Isestraße 69 , 20149 Hamburg Tue and Fri 8:30am-2:00pm Prices : $ - $$$
Hamburger Hacks
Werner Hellmund A hidden gem , this unique basement shop is filled with Hellmund ‘ s own creations and those of his designer friends . Simple , timeless , and beautiful ! Stunning , one-off pieces of clothing , housewares , scarves , handmade bags , with a few oneof-a-kind soft toys thrown into the mix . You won ’ t find these pieces anywhere else . ……………………. Bernstorffstraße 172 , 22767 Hamburg Tue-Fri : 1pm-7pm Saturdays : 12pm-4pm Prices : $$ - $$$ www . awchamburg . org 51