Plants & Gardens Blog - Brooklyn Botanic Garden

Eat Local: Quick Pickling Primer for Fruit or Vegetables

Quick pickling is easy and doesn’t require any special equipment. One basic recipe can work for a whole host of options, from caraway pickled strawberries to French breakfast radishes with cilantro.

By Sarah Owens

Growing Food

Eat Local: How to Shop for and Prepare Persimmons

Persimmons are in season now. Learn how to tell when they're ripe, and try this recipe for honey-roasted spiced persimmons on toast.

By Sarah Owens

Growing Food

Eat Local: Sweet Potato versus Yam—a Primer with a Pie Recipe

Sweet potatoes and yams aren't even in the same plant family, and they have important culinary differences, too. Only sweet potatoes can be used in this delicious pie recipe.

By Sarah Owens

A bowl of green soup with yellow blossoms strewn on it.

Urban Gardening | Growing Food

Eat Local: Wild Rocket and Lettuce Soup

Wild rocket is a mustard-family cousin of arugula that grows like a weed. It has pretty flowers and peppery leaves, both of which can be used in this tasty soup.

By Sarah Owens

Growing Food

Eat Local: Sprouted Grain Bowl

Wheat berries and many other grains are viable seeds that can be encouraged to sprout. Try this delicious variation with fresh, local veggies and herbs.

By Sarah Owens

A cast iron pan full of green tomato shakshuka, which features tomatoes and eggs.

Growing Food

Eat Local: Green Tomato Shakshuka

Tomatoes were once viewed with suspicion, but these days, we can't get enough of them. Even the unripe ones are delicious, especially in this recipe.

By Sarah Owens

A dish of blueberry lavender ice cream, with blueberries sprinkled on top and lavender next to the dish.

Growing Food

Eat Local: Homemade Blueberry Lavender Ice Cream

Blueberries and lavender are in season now. So is ice cream!

By Sarah Owens

Dried pasta, ramps, mushrooms, and other ingredients on a marbled countertop.

Growing Food

Eat Local: Spring Pasta with Ramp and Parsley Pesto

Ramps are here! Take full advantage of their short, sweet season with this delicious pesto recipe. It's especially good with other seasonal ingredients like morels and fiddleheads.

By Sarah Owens

Variations of sauerkraut on a slate tray.

Growing Food

Recipe: Apple-Fennel Sauerkraut

Homemade sauerkraut is easy to make and surprisingly delicious. Pair this tasty variation with sausage or roast pork, or add it to potato salad, chicken salad, or stuffing.

By Michaela Hayes