Ramps grow from South Carolina to Canada, and in many areas they're considered a spring delicacy and even a reason for celebration. West Virginia is well-known for their many festivals and events in celebration of the ramp. The flavor and odor of ramps is usually compared to a combination of onions and garlic, and the garlic odor is particularly strong. Strong enough, in fact, that even ramp-lovers will advise caution. If you sit down to a big meal of ramps, don't be surprised if people continue to keep their distance after a few days have passed!
Cautions aside, ramps add wonderful and uniquely pungent flavor to soups, casseroles, rice dishes and potato dishes. Use them raw or cooked in any recipe calling for scallions or leeks, or cook them in a more traditional way, scrambled with eggs or fried with potatoes. Since ramps aren't cultivated in the way leeks are, they're much easier to clean. Just rinse thoroughly and scrub off any excess dirt on the bulbs.
Ramps aren't available for long, but you can chop and freeze them for cooked dishes. The green tops are milder in flavor and are usually used along with the bulbs. I chop about half of the green leaves separately, air-dry them for a few hours then freeze them in an air-tight container for future use as a seasoning.
If you can't find ramps in your area, they are available seasonally at Earthy Delights (along with fiddleheads, wild morels, and more). You'll also find a nice selection of recipes to browse through.
If you're lucky enough to have fresh ramps in your area, try some of the recipes below.
Potato and Wild Leek Soup
Scalloped Potatoes and Ramps
Ramps with Bacon and Hard-Cooked Eggs
Ramps with Eggs
Fried Ramps & Potatoes
Ramp Pudding
Next Page: Recipes with Leeks and Green Onions
