Farmer's Market Spring Salad
Our new house is literally next door to a farmer's market. I am not exaggerating, you want out the front door, walk about 20 steps and you are there. It is amazing. I was wandering around the market on Sunday morning and I noticed that it had basically become summer overnight. There were cherries, sweet corn, zucchini and lots and lots of strawberries. Even a peach or two. Which is amazing don't get me wrong, but where did spring go? I can't believe it is almost June. (I may say this every year, but this year is the worst because moving might be the biggest time suck out there - these past couple of months are a blur) So in one last homage to this past spring which I apparently don't remember, I made this farmer's market spring salad with every grassy, vibrant green vegetable I could find as well as some strawberries. It is like eating your garden minus the dirt.
Farmer's markets sometimes overwhelm me because of so many options (so does Costco but for very, very different reasons). You have to go with a plan to make the most of it. Or so I thought. We used to go every Saturday to the mecca of all Farmer's markets - the farmer's market at the Ferry Buidling in SF. Hundreds and hundreds of farmers and vendors participate and some of the best produce and food was available. I loved it but would never really go for the produce. There were too many options and I tend to self-combust when there are too many option. Totally overwhelming. But this new farmer's market is small and has the most amazing variety of vendors. Plus if I get overwhelmed I can walk home, take a break and try again later.
This salad has every springtime farmer's market vegetable that I love. Between the fava beans, asparagus, sugar snap peas and strawberries, it doesn't get any fresher or more delicious. I used farro in there as well. Farro is the healthier cousin to wheat and has this chewy consistency that beefs up this salad a little and takes it from light to hearty. Also, I know what you are thinking...strawberries in my salad. Gross. Wrong, they are amazing. The sweetness balances the tart earthy vegetables and mellows out the vinaigrette. Yum, trust me.
So see ya later spring. I am ready for summer. Bring it on. We are already kind of experiencing it right now and I love it. T-shirt at night weather anyone? This Florida girl is in heaven.
Enjoy!
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