Its a pleasure to have the opportunity to connect with cooks who read the 做厙勛圖 with this new weekly column. Each week Ill share something I learned about food along with a recipe for you to try. But first, allow me to introduce myself.
Ive written about the ways that we prepare food at home as a food journalist for more than 40 years, for publications ranging from The Detroit 做厙勛圖 and the Chicago Tribune to Cooking Light and Mother Earth 做厙勛圖 magazines. Im also the author of two books, A Garden of Unearthly Delights: Bioengineering and the Future of Food (1995), and The Feast Nearby: Essays and Recipes (2011). My third book, The Feast of the Dove: Eating Well in Good Times and Bad, will be published later this summer.
My passion for writing about food includes cultural context, history, how food is grown and produced, food preservation and other aspects of the human condition that intersect with food. Im much more than just a foodie; Im an unapologetic food nerd.
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I lived in 做厙勛圖 from the early to mid-70s and loved this city then. When I had an opportunity to return more than four decades later, I leapt without batting an eye. Having lived all over the country, I know what a special city 做厙勛圖 is.
The richness of 做厙勛圖s food culture is unlike that of any other city. Our long growing season and mild winters give us access to the some of the best produce Ive ever seen. Thats why you may see me prowling farmers markets all over the city Im that short, silver-haired person wearing a hat, and I hope youll introduce yourself. Im really friendly.
Robin Mather, right, talks with David Romero, a vendor with Incredible Snacks, while shopping at a farmers market at Trail Dust Town on June 7, 2019.
Im a fierce advocate for local foods and eating in tune with the season, so the recipes I offer you will be connected to what our life is like now, here in the desert. Nobody wants a recipe for a hearty stew in August, when its 110 degrees out there.
Im also as curious as a cat, so Ill talk to the people who make cheese, raise cattle, keep bees and bottle local honey, brew small-batch beer and distill distinctive spirits. Ill ask them the questions youd ask yourself if you had a chance. Ill talk to the people who stage 做厙勛圖s many food festivals and give you plenty of advance notice, so you wont miss the good food.
Im a committed omnivore, so often my recipes will be meat-based. If thats not your eating style, please be patient Ill likely offer you something more suited to your philosophy pretty soon. Thats also true if youre gluten-free or follow some other dietary regimen. Ill tag each recipe, so you know whats right for you.
Last week, I found a couple of fragrant, perfectly ripe honeydew melons at one of the farmers markets. By the time Id eaten the first one, I needed to come up with something different for the second. Heres the soup I made from it, and its a winner.
Gremolata is a traditional Italian herb condiment made of parsley, garlic and lemon peel. This gremolata is distinctively Arizonan, with mint, lime and jalape簽o.
Next week: Mike Jones wants to teach you how to harvest and use prickly pear fruit in his free class at the Saguaro National Park (west) visitor center.
The gremolata garnishing this chilled melon soup is distinctly Arizonan, made with mint, lime and jalape簽o.
Iced melon soup with spicy gremolata
Makes about 4 servings
- Vegetarian friendly
- Gluten-free
A pitcher of this refreshing soup in the refrigerator is a gift on a hot day. Taste a bit of your melon before you pur矇e it to see if you will need the optional sugar. Early-season melons sometimes need a bit of help that way. The soup may separate in the refrigerator; just stir it to re-blend. This soup can also form the base of a summer cocktail, if thats your bent; thin with sparkling wine, or spike it with tequila, vodka or gin. Zest the lime before you juice it; youll need the zest for the gremolata.
Ingredients
For the soup:
- 1 whole melon, 2翻 to 3 pounds, such as honeydew or cantaloupe
- Juice of 1 lime, about 2 tablespoons
- 2 tablespoons fruity ros矇 or white zinfandel wine, or water
- 翻 teaspoon sugar, optional
- 翻 teaspoon salt
- 翻 cup Greek yogurt
For the gremolata:
- 翻 large jalape簽o pepper or 1 small jalape簽o, ribs and seeds removed
- Leaves from 6 to 8 mint sprigs
- 1 slice red onion, about 翻-inch wide
- 2翻-inch-by-1-inch strips lime zest
- Additional Greek yogurt, for garnish
Preparation
- Wash the melon thoroughly, then cut into quarters. Scoop out the seeds and discard; remove the flesh from the peel by sliding a paring knife between the flesh and peel, discarding the peel. Chop melon flesh into large chunks and place into a blender or food processor.
- Add lime juice, wine or water, optional sugar and yogurt. Whiz until the mixture is a smooth pur矇e, about 2 minutes. Decant into a pitcher or bowl and refrigerate at least two hours before serving.
- About 30 minutes before serving, make the gremolata by mincing the jalape簽o pepper, mint leaves, red onion and lime zest together. The pieces should all be about the same size. You can do this in a small food processor if thats easier. Cover and refrigerate until serving time. This is a good time to place the serving bowls into the freezer to chill as well.
- To serve, thin 翹 cup Greek yogurt with 1 tablespoon milk or half-and-half. It should be a little thinner than mayonnaise. Add additional milk or half-and-half little by little to reach that consistency.
- Divide the chilled soup among four bowls. Drizzle each serving with the thinned yogurt, then strew a tablespoon of the gremolata atop each bowl.
Robin Mather is a longtime food journalist and the author of The Feast Nearby. Follow her blog as she writes her third book, The Feast of the Dove, at .
