Wild Ramps
Ramps, Allium tricoccum, emerge locally in the early spring for a few short weeks. They were once used as a spring tonic for colds. Not only are ramps are high in vitamin C, which aids immune health, they are also filled with antioxidants and protect from some types of cancer.
Fast & Easy Ramps and Eggs Stir-Fry Recipe
You may order and pickup your ramps from Young Harvests Farm, a Bethesda and Rockville farmers market staple.
Ingredients:
8-12 fresh ramps, cleaned, roots removed, cut into 2-inch sections
3 fresh organic eggs, beaten
2 tbsp olive oil
Sea salt and pepper to taste
Steps:
Heat a wok or large pan on high heat
Add olive oil
Add eggs and stir fry, breaking into large bite sized pieces
When eggs are completely formed, add ramps and continue to stir fry on high heat
Season with salt and pepper
Serve hot
References:
BAIRD, E & LANE, M. (1947). The seasonal variation in the ascorbic acid content of edible wild plants commonly found in New Brunswick. Canadian journal of research. 25. 95-101. 10.1139/cjr47c-009.
Calvey, E. M., White, K. D., Matusik, J. E., Sha, D., & Block, E. (1998). Allium chemistry: identification of organosulfur compounds in ramp (allium tricoccum) homogenates fn1 fn1. Phytochemistry, 49(2), 359–364. doi: 10.1016/s0031-9422(98)00191-5
Beretta HV, Bannoud F, Insani M, Berli F, Hirschegger P, Galmarini CR, Cavagnaro PF. Relationships Between Bioactive Compound Content and the Antiplatelet and Antioxidant Activities of Six Allium Vegetable Species. Food Technol Biotechnol. 2017 Jun;55(2) 266-275. doi:10.17113/ftb.55.02.17.4722. PMID: 28867958; PMCID: PMC5569348.