Spring days bring more light, friendlier temperatures and delicious seasonal products to incorporate into our daily lives. Here we tell you which ones they are, how to make the most of them and, of course, how to pair them with wine.
Broad beans, artichokes, strawberries, asparagus, courgettes and blueberries are some of the fruits and vegetables that can be found very fresh during the spring season in Chile. Freshly harvested and perfectly ripen, they are great to transform into the star of a dish. In addition, eating according to the seasons is a much more sustainable way of consumption and is good for our body.
Broad beans
When these legumes appear in the markets, it is a sign that summer is near. Hopefully they come in their pods, so you can sit down and shell them and relax a little, and then cook them. How? You can boil them in salted water, only 3 minutes if they are small or 4 minutes if they are large. This way they will retain their vibrant green colour and will not turn mushy. To eat them, I recommend removing the skin. Whether you use them for a salad, in a risotto, to make falafels (yes, in Egypt they are the main ingredient in this dish), or a puree to serve alongside grilled white fish, broad beans will always pair best with white wines that enhance their freshness. Think of a Sauvignon Blanc or a medium-bodied wine like Marques de Casa Concha Chardonnay.
Artichokes
Like broad beans and asparagus, which we will leave out of this article, artichokes have an unfair bad reputation for not pairing well with wine. Artichokes can often make extremely dry white wines taste sweet when drinking them. Is that wrong? No. It’s all a matter of taste. If you like to enjoy them with mayonnaise, a Sauvignon Blanc is a great pairing, but a wine like Marques de Casa Concha Chardonnay works very well with artichokes prepared in risottos or also fried Roman style.
Courgettes
Courgettes work very well when cooked with ingredients such as cheese, cream or yogurt, and also herbs. For this reason, white wines are recommended to help balance the fat content of those ingredients on the palate. Another option is to grill them, where the zucchini lose water and concentrate their sweet flavours that pair very well with the mineral and toasted hazelnut notes of Marques de Casa Concha Chardonnay.
Strawberries
They are without a doubt one of the most anticipated fruits of the year, both to enjoy as a snack, make desserts or add to salads. This last option, in fact, is my favourite. Combined with tomatoes, lettuce, avocado and mozzarella cheese, they make a great salad. Another option? A tomato and strawberry gazpacho is another delicious alternative. Both preparations pair spectacularly with Marques de Casa Concha Rosé Cinsault, which, with its notes of pomegranate and pink melon, perfectly complement the precious strawberries.
