Best 3 Spring Vegetable Stew Recipes

MUSTARD SALMON WITH SPRING VEGETABLE STEW

Steps:

• Heat oven to 375 degrees. Sprinkle salmon lightly on both sides with kosher salt. Place skin-side down in a low baking dish. Sprinkle top of fish with fennel and black pepper. Smear mustard evenly over the surface. Leave for at least 10 minutes to absorb seasoning and come to room temperature.
• Bake salmon, uncovered, just until white juices begin to surface at sides and top, 10 to 15 minutes, depending on thickness. Remove and let rest 5 minutes. (Salmon should be perfectly cooked, still moist at center.)
• As salmon cooks, make the vegetable stew: Set a Dutch oven or wide, heavy skillet over medium-high heat. Melt butter, then add the fennel. Season lightly with salt. Let fennel cook without browning, stirring frequently until just done, about 5 minutes. Add asparagus, sugar snap peas, shucked peas, cauliflower, scallions and a small pinch of salt. Stir to combine and add ¼ cup water. Raise heat to high and cover pot. Cook for 5 minutes, until vegetables are tender-crisp and just done (residual heat will cook them further). Turn off heat and transfer vegetables to a serving dish.
• In a tiny skillet, heat oil over medium-high. When oil is wavy, add mustard seeds and serrano chile, and stir together. When mustard seeds begin to sputter and pop, pour contents of skillet over the vegetable stew. Top with tarragon and parsley.
• For each serving, place a piece of salmon on a warmed plate. Spoon some vegetables over and around salmon. Pass remaining vegetables at the table.

SPRING VEGETABLE STEW WITH SWEET-POTATO DUMPLINGS

Steps:

• Makethedumplings: Place sweet potato in a saucepan; cover with water by1inch. Bringto a boil; add a large pinchof salt. Reduceheat; simmer until tender,about 15 minutes. Meanwhile,whisk theflour,bakingpowder, 1 1/2 teaspoons salt,andapinch of pepper in a bowl; set aside.
• Drain sweet potato. Pass through a ricer onto a baking sheet. Spread out; let cool 15 minutes. Transfer to a bowl. Stir in eggs and parsley. Add flour mixture; stir just until a sticky dough forms.
• Meanwhile, make the stew: Fill a medium bowl with cold water. Squeeze juice of 1 1/2 lemons into water; add rinds. Remove and discard tough outer leaves from 1 artichoke. Cut off top third; peel stem. Halve artichoke lengthwise; remove fuzzy choke, and discard. Cut into 1-inch-thick wedges, and place in lemon water. Repeat with remaining artichokes.
• Melt butter in a medium stockpot over medium heat. Add onions; cook, stirring occasionally, 3 minutes. Add Parmesan rind. Drain artichokes; add to pot. Stir in stock and 4 1/2 cups water; add salt and pepper. Bring to a boil. Add carrots. Reduce heat; simmer, partially covered, 10 minutes. Squeeze remaining 1/2 lemon into pot; stir in tarragon.
• Using 2 spoons, form 18 dumplings, dropping into stew as you work. Cover; cook 7 minutes. Add asparagus. Cook, covered, until the dumplings are cooked through and vegetables are tender, about 3 minutes. Remove rind before serving.

SPRING VEGETABLE STEW

Steps:

• Fill a bowl with water and add lemon juice. Trim artichokes, quarter them and place in the water as you go along.
• Heat oil over medium heat in a large, heavy, lidded skillet or Dutch oven and add onions and celery. Cook, stirring, until tender, about 5 minutes. Add garlic, stir for about a minute until you can smell the fragrance of the garlic, and add fennel and a generous pinch of salt. Cook, stirring often, for 5 to 8 minutes more, until the fennel has softened.
• Drain artichoke hearts and add to the pan. Cook, stirring often, for 5 minutes. Add water and salt to taste and bring to a simmer. Cover, reduce heat to low, and simmer for 10 to 15 minutes, or until all of the vegetables are very tender and fragrant. Stir in chopped fennel fronds and/or mint and simmer for a few more minutes. Taste and adjust salt and pepper. Serve hot or warm, on its own as a side, tossed with pasta or as a topping for grains.