What is a good substitute for ramps? I have never seen them at markets in my part of California's central coast.

Question

I've been loving A New Way to Cook Dinner.  We've worked our way through all of the Winter menus and half the Fall menus.  Most of the ingredients for the Spring menus are available now where I live, except ramps and I don't think I've ever seen them here (Santa Cruz).

Adrienne · Answer

I’m actually sitting here with my copy of A New Way To Dinner and wondering the same thing - not because my market typically lack ramps, but because the winter will never end haha

QueenSashy · Answer

I think the best way to "reproduce" ramps without actually having them is doing a combo of small garlic clove and green part of scallion or spring onion.

Valhalla · Answer

Scallions are easy, but I bet you will also be able to find garlic scapes soon.

morning G. · Answer

Ramps are a form of wild garlic. The leaves and roots can be used and they have a milder flavour than garlic. So use a little garlic and/or if its the green colour that'd neede to then add some chives or spring onion tops.

AmyWirth · Answer

Thank you!  That's what I was thinking, but since I've never had a ramp, I wasn't sure.

AmyWirth · Answer

Your book has totally helped me to achieve my new year's goal of not hitting the Whole Foods hot bar after karate/dance/guitar/etc. or just giving up altogether and feeding my kids cereal every night during the school week.

Amanda H. · Answer

What amysarah said! If I use one of these, I'll often toss in a small garlic clove to replicate the gentle garlic aroma of ramps. So glad to hear you've been enjoying our book!

amysarah · Answer

Scallions, green onions, spring onions...

What is a good substitute for ramps? I have never seen them at markets in my part of California's central coast.

8 Comments

Popular on Food52