The Best Recipes from Chicago's Award-Winning Farmers Market

Chicago is home to a bustling food scene, and one of the highlights is undoubtedly its farmers markets. With a countless array of fresh produce, artisanal products, and talented local chefs, these markets have become a haven for food enthusiasts. In this article, we will take a closer look at some of the best recipes you can create using ingredients sourced directly from Chicago's award-winning farmers market.

Recipe 1: Heirloom Tomato Caprese Salad

One of the most iconic ingredients of summer is the juicy heirloom tomato. At the farmers market, you can find a colorful variety of these delicious tomatoes, each with its own unique flavor profile. This recipe combines the freshness of heirloom tomatoes with creamy mozzarella, basil leaves, and a drizzle of balsamic reduction. It's a simple yet elegant dish that perfectly showcases the quality of ingredients available at the market.

The Green City Market Cookbook: Great Recipes from Chicago's Award-Winning Farmers Market

by Green City Market (Kindle Edition)

4.3 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	19607 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
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X-Ray	:	Enabled
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Print length	:	305 pages
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Recipe 2: Grilled Sweet Corn with Chili Lime Butter

One of the star attractions at any Chicago farmers market is the sweet corn, known for its plump kernels and unparalleled sweetness. This recipe elevates the simple grilled corn by adding a zesty chili lime butter. The smoky charred flavor of the grilled corn combined with the tangy and spicy butter creates a perfect balance of flavors that will leave you craving for more.

Recipe 3: Garlic Butter Shrimp Scampi

Another highlight of Chicago's farmers market is the wide variety of fresh seafood available. This recipe takes advantage of the succulent shrimp sourced directly from the market and combines them with a rich garlic butter sauce. The dish is packed with flavors and can be enjoyed on its own or served over a bed of pasta or rice.

Recipe 4: Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Bacon and Maple Glaze

Brussels sprouts have made a comeback in recent years, and at the farmers market, you can find some of the freshest and most flavorful options. This recipe takes the humble Brussels sprouts and transforms them into a savory and indulgent side dish. The combination of crispy bacon and sweet maple glaze adds depth and richness to the roasted sprouts, making them absolutely irresistible.

Recipe 5: Peach and Blueberry Cobbler

In the summer months, farmers markets in Chicago are bursting with an abundance of ripe peaches and juicy blueberries. This recipe is a classic cobbler that beautifully showcases these two fruits. The combination of the tangy blueberries and the sweet, fragrant peaches results in a comforting dessert that is perfect for any gathering or simply for indulging in a cozy night at home.

Chicago's farmers markets provide a remarkable platform for bridging the gap between local producers and food enthusiasts. The recipes mentioned above are just a glimpse of the vast culinary possibilities that can be explored using ingredients sourced from these markets. So, next time you visit Chicago, make sure to immerse yourself in the vibrant and delicious offerings at the award-winning farmers market.

The Green City Market Cookbook: Great Recipes from Chicago's Award-Winning Farmers Market

by Green City Market (Kindle Edition)

4.3 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	19607 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
X-Ray	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	305 pages
Lending	:	Enabled

FREE

“Designed to honor the seasonal arc of produce consumption that all farmers markets thrive on . . . the book also touts regional, fresh and the Midwest.” —Third Coast Review

Founded in 1998 by the late culinary luminary, author, chef, and entrepreneur Abby Mandel, the Green City Market is the venerable year-round farmers market held in Chicago’s Lincoln Park. Since its inception, the Green City Market has grown into one of the most popular destinations for finding organic and sustainable produce and products throughout the Midwest’s extensive farm-to-table culinary movement.

The Green City Market Cookbook is the first collection of recipes from the celebrity chefs, local farmers, loyal customers, and longtime vendors that make up the Green City Market community. Beautifully illustrated with full-color photography, the thoroughly tested recipes in this book represent a diversity of wonderful meals that can be created from the fresh, sustainable output of Midwestern family farms.

Chicago’s leading chefs, as well as other market regulars, have contributed recipes simple enough for the inexperienced cook but sufficiently enticing to satisfy the most discriminating gourmet. Organized by season, The Green City Market Cookbook provides eager readers with recipes that make use of fresh fruits and vegetables that come straight from the small regional farms that are the lifeblood of the farm-to-fork movement.

“This cookbook is a living breathing document to how we are connected to the land, the farmers, and each other. It will be your constant resource for the seasons, ingredients, and the most delicious ways to cook.” —Ina Pinkney, former chef/owner of The Dessert Kitchen Ltd. and cookbook author

“A collection of locally driven recipes with stunning photographs.” —Zagat