With all of the great posts that Shawn has been doing about his Central Brooklyn CSA shares, we figured it was time to invite chef extraordinaire, Brandon Maya Johnson, to give us some tasty recipes.

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Greetings, Seasonal Eaters. Brooklyn’s finest CSA is sharing its fresh bounty and I am here to give you tasty ideas for your harvest. I have combined fruits, vegetables and herbs to create a picnic-friendly potato salad, minty fruit salad, vegetarian sandwich and a citrus cocktail. Feel free to ask questions about this delicious CSA menu and share your recipe ideas in comments.

Enjoy,
Brandon

Central Brooklyn CSA Share: This is a combination of this week’s and last week’s harvest.
Celery, Dill, Garlic, Leeks, Lemon Grass, Lettuce, Nectarines, Plums, Peaches, Onion, Rosemary, Spearmint,  Zucchini, Red Potatoes, Oregano, Corn, Carrots, Green Peppers, Beets, Eggs

CSA Recipe Ideas:

• Picnic-friendly Potato Salad (hold the mayo, bring on the dill and garlic vinaigrette)
• Lemongrass and Mint-marinated Nectarines, Peaches and Plums
• Roasted Zucchini Sandwich with Oregano-marinated Tomatoes, Onions and Hummus
• Grilled Fruit and Ice Cream
• Roasted Beets and Carrots with Feta
• Lemongrass and Mint Cocktail Spritzer

Lip smacking recipe idea directions after the jump…

1) Picnic-friendly Potato Salad (hold the mayo, bring on the dill vinaigrette)

Outdoor party potato salad is refreshing with dill vinaigrette.  Boil some potatoes then chop and toss together these CSA ingredients. Mix in the fresh dill vinaigrette (recipe below) and dig in.

CSA Ingredients
Onion
Red potatoes
Dill
Celery
Corn
Boiled Eggs
Green Peppers
Dill vinaigrette

Dill Vinaigrette Ingredients
1/3 cup champagne vinegar
1 small shallot, fine dice
1 cup extra virgin olive oil
2 Tbsp fresh, chopped dill
½ tsp Dijon mustard
2 garlic cloves, minced
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

Dill Vinaigrette Directions
1. Combine vinegar, garlic, shallots, mustard, dill and seasonings and let infuse for 10 minutes. Slowly whisk in the olive oil. Taste and adjust seasoning. Mix vinaigrette with potato salad and set aside for 2 hours to blend flavors.

2) Lemongrass and Mint-marinated Nectarines and Plums, Plus a Summer Cocktail and Grilled Fruit Dessert

Lemongrass and mint are delicious with fruit. Make a simple syrup (half low-simmering water, half sugar), add chopped lemongrass and spearmint and cook until fragrant. Let cool then remove the herbs, and give your plump CSA nectarines, peaches and plums a refreshing minty, citrus bath.

3) Grilled Fruit and Ice Cream

You can also grill the nectarines, peaches and plums and top with French vanilla ice cream.

4) Cool Summer Cocktail

Add the lemongrass and mint simple syrup to vodka and club soda for a refreshing mixed drink. Cheers.

CSA Ingredients
Lemongrass
Spearmint
Sugar
Water
Nectarines
Plums
Peaches

5) Roasted Zucchini Sandwich with Oregano-marinated Tomatoes, Onions and Hummus
This vegetarian pita sandwich won me over and I am pretty loyal to my meats. Marinade the tomatoes and onions in rosemary vinaigrette (recipe below). Slice and roast the zucchini and leeks. Make your pita happy with hummus and add an even layer of this fresh CSA produce for an addictive vegetarian sandwich. Enjoy.

CSA Ingredients
Lettuce
Zucchini
Onion
Leeks
Tomatoes
Oregano and Rosemary Vinaigrette (recipe below)
Hummus Spread
Pita Bread

Oregano and Rosemary Vinaigrette Ingredients
1/3 cup red wine vinegar
1/2 small shallot, fine dice
1 cup extra virgin olive oil
1 Tbsp finely chopped fresh rosemary
1 Tbsp Oregano, finely chopped
1 garlic clove, minced
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

Oregano and Rosemary Vinaigrette Directions
1. Combine vinegar, garlic, shallots, rosemary, oregano and seasonings and let infuse for 10 minutes. Slowly whisk in the olive oil. Taste and adjust seasoning.

6) Beets and Carrots with Feta or Goat Cheese
This purple and orange side dish makes a beautiful color combination. Simply chop and roast the beets and carrots, separately. Then season with salt and pepper and toss them separately with the oregano vinaigrette . Right before serving toss the beets and carrots together and add crumbled goat or feta cheese on top. Add this side dish to your favorite salad, or eat it as is.

CSA Ingredients
Beets
Carrots
Goat Cheese Crumbles
Feta Cheese Crumbles
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

What are you cooking with your CSA harvest?

Photography by Brandon Johnson. Brandon is a chef , food writer, web manager and recipe developer. Her experience includes working with Cooking Channel, The French Culinary Institute, Saveur Magazine, Food Network and Danny Meyer’s Union Square Events. Her blog is Dresses & Appetizers.

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