Spring Vegetable Stew

This spring stew is gorgeously green, with piles of fresh scallions, zucchini, and tender hearts of romaine. But it’s also designed to highlight a particular spring delicacy: white asparagus, which is grown under cover of soil to keep it pale and delicate. White asparagus is particularly prized in Austria and Germany, and you’ll see festivals at the start of the season in both countries. But the presence of other seasonal vegetables like tender carrots, white turnips, and fava beans (if you can get them) makes the stew reminiscent of vignole, the Roman soup designed to highlight spring’s bounty.

Notes from the Food & Wine Test Kitchen

When fresh fava beans are available, use them in place of the cranberry beans. Fava beans typically start appearing at the market in late April or May. Hon Shimeji mushrooms, also known as “beech mushrooms,” are available at Asian or specialty food markets.

As a nod to the Central European love of white asparagus, we suggest serving this stew with spaetzle.

Suggested pairing

Inspired by Austrians’ love of white asparagus, former F&W Test Kitchen editor Marcia Kiesel created this stew to pair with peppery Zweigelt.

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Ingredients

• 1/4 pound thin white asparagus, cut into 1-inch lengths

• 1 cup shelled fresh cranberry beans (4 ounces or 1 pound in the pod)

• 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

• 20 thin scallions, white and pale green parts only

• 1/4 pound Hon Shimeji or beech mushrooms

• Salt

• 6 white turnips, about 2 inches in diameter, peeled and cut into wedges

• 2 medium carrots, cut into 1-inch-long sticks

• 2 1/4 cups vegetable stock

• 1 (6-ounce) zucchini, halved lengthwise and sliced crosswise 1/4 inch thick

• 1/2 teaspoon finely grated lemon zest

• 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice

• 1 romaine heart, cut into 2-inch pieces

• 2 tablespoons crème fraîche

• 1 tablespoon small chervil leaves

• 1 tablespoon minced chives

1. In a medium pot of simmering salted water, cook the asparagus over moderately high heat until tender, about 4 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the asparagus to a bowl. Add the cranberry beans to the water and simmer over moderate heat until tender, about 40 minutes. Drain the beans and transfer to the bowl.

2. Meanwhile, in a medium enameled, cast-iron casserole, heat 1/2 tablespoon of the olive oil. Add the scallions and cook over moderate heat until barely tender, about 1 minute. Transfer the scallions to the bowl with the asparagus. Add another 1/2 tablespoon of the olive oil to the casserole. Add the mushrooms, season with salt, cover, and cook over moderate heat, stirring a few times, until lightly browned and tender, about 3 minutes. Transfer the mushrooms to the bowl.

3. Heat the remaining 1 tablespoon of olive oil in the casserole. Add the turnips and carrots, season with salt and cook over moderate heat for 1 minute. Add 1 cup of the stock, cover, and cook over low heat, stirring occasionally, for 15 minutes. Add another 1/2 cup of the stock, cover, and cook until the turnips and carrots are tender, about 10 minutes longer. Add the zucchini and 1/2 cup of the stock and simmer until the zucchini is just tender, about 4 minutes. Add the remaining 1/4 cup of stock to the casserole along with the lemon zest, lemon juice, and lettuce, and cook, stirring, until the lettuce just wilts, about 20 seconds. Stir in the crème fraîche.

4. Add the asparagus, beans, scallions, and mushrooms to the stew. Simmer briefly, until heated through, about 30 seconds. Add the chervil and chives and serve the stew in bowls.