Eating Seasonally in Ontario this Spring

If you follow the musings of the food world, you’ll know there’s been an ongoing conversation that harks back to the seventies and eighties about the importance of locality. Advocates of the Slow Food Movement are pioneers in this space, with a goal to hold onto local food traditions and ensure universal access to good food across the food system. At Mi BOWL we’ve been thinking a lot about how this applies to our business and how we can be part of the movement. For us, this means bringing awareness to our customers on important culinary topics like how we can eat more locally and seasonally. It also means facing the realities of how to run a small start-up business in a sustainable manner, whether that be financially, environmentally, or socially. We know we can do more, which we’re working on behind the scenes, but today we’ll start today by sharing our thoughts on the importance of seasonality. 

What is Seasonality? 

First off, what is seasonality? In the culinary world, it refers to the practice of using ingredients that are naturally available and at their best during specific times of the year. It's about embracing the ebb and flow of the seasons, celebrating the freshness and abundance that each one brings to our tables. From vibrant spring greens to hearty autumn squashes, each season offers its own unique palette of flavors and textures.

Why Eat Seasonally: Culinary and Environmental Benefits

Embracing seasonality is not only about enjoying the freshest ingredients; it also has significant culinary, health and environmental benefits.

• Superior Flavor: Seasonal produce is harvested at its peak ripeness, resulting in enhanced flavor profiles and textures.
• Nutritional Value: Freshly harvested fruits and vegetables retain more nutrients, offering greater health benefits.
• Culinary Creativity: Cooking with seasonal ingredients encourages culinary creativity and experimentation, as chefs and home cooks explore new flavor combinations and dishes.
• Reduced Carbon Footprint: Eating seasonally reduces the carbon emissions associated with long-distance transportation of out-of-season produce.
• Support for Local Farmers: Choosing seasonal, locally sourced ingredients supports small-scale farmers and promotes sustainable agricultural practices.
• Preservation of Biodiversity: Embracing seasonality helps preserve biodiversity by encouraging the cultivation of a wider variety of crops.

Spring Seasonality in Ontario

As springtime approaches in Ontario, you may be interested in how you can incorporate seasonality into your diet. Some seasonal ingredients to look out for in Ontario during spring include:

• Asparagus
• Rhubarb
• Peas (both sugar snap peas and shelling peas)
• Radishes
• Spinach
• Arugula
• Green onions
• Fiddleheads

This spring, we’ll be thinking up creative ways to incorporate these ingredients into our Mi BOWL menus. Keep your eyes out! Until then, we’ll leave you with a recipe for a ginger-glazed asparagus stir-fry. 

This dish is a flavorful and nutritious way to enjoy Ontario's seasonal produce in spring. The tender-crisp asparagus, vibrant red bell pepper, and sweet sugar snap peas are complemented perfectly by the savory-sweet ginger glaze. Serve it as a satisfying main dish or as a tasty side alongside your favorite Asian-inspired entrees. 

Ginger-Glazed Asparagus Stir-Fry

Ingredients:

• 1 bunch asparagus, trimmed and cut into bite-sized pieces
• 1 red bell pepper, thinly sliced
• 1 cup sugar snap peas, trimmed
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tablespoon fresh ginger, minced
• 2 tablespoons soy sauce
• 1 tablespoon honey
• 2 teaspoons rice vinegar
• 2 teaspoons sesame oil
• 2 green onions, thinly sliced
• Cooked rice, for serving
• Sesame seeds, for garnish

Instructions:

1. In a small bowl, whisk together soy sauce, honey, rice vinegar, and sesame oil to make the sauce. Set aside.
2. Heat a large skillet or wok over medium-high heat. Add a drizzle of oil and swirl to coat the pan.
3. Add minced garlic and ginger to the skillet and stir-fry for about 30 seconds, until fragrant.
4. Add the asparagus, red bell pepper, and sugar snap peas to the skillet. Stir-fry for 3-4 minutes, or until the vegetables are crisp-tender.
5. Pour the sauce over the vegetables in the skillet. Stir to coat evenly and cook for an additional 1-2 minutes, until the sauce thickens slightly.
6. Remove from heat and sprinkle sliced green onions over the stir-fry.
7. Serve the ginger-glazed asparagus stir-fry hot over cooked rice, garnished with sesame seeds.

Enjoy!