8 Mouth-Watering Recipes For West Virginia Ramps That'll Make You So Hungry (2024)

West VirginiaNature

By Rachel Price

|Published April 29, 2015

×8 Mouth-Watering Recipes For West Virginia Ramps That'll Make You So Hungry (1)

Rachel Price

Author

A West Virginia girl. A fiancée. A writer. A mother to one. A daughter. A sister to four. A book worm.

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It is finally ramp season here in these West Virginia mountains. I always know that it’s time when I pass people selling ramps on my way home.Not only that, the Richwood Ramp Festival was just a couple of weeks ago. Richwood is known as the Ramp Capital of the World.

Check out these 8absolutely delectable ramp recipes!

8 Mouth-Watering Recipes For West Virginia Ramps That'll Make You So Hungry (2)

Ingredients:6 slices bacon, cooked and chopped1 cup ramps, white parts and leaves, chopped 2-3 medium size potatoes, peeled and chopped5 large eggssalt, pepper, and chives shredded cheese Cook bacon in a large frying pan, remove, drain, and chop it up, then set aside. Using the same pan with the bacon grease, fry ramps and potatoes over low heat, covered, until the potatoes are soft. Crack the eggs over the ramps and potatoes mixture and fry, covered, until the eggs are done to however you like them. Sprinkle on some shredded Cheddar. Season with salt, pepper, and chives to taste. Serve immediately and top with the chopped bacon.

8 Mouth-Watering Recipes For West Virginia Ramps That'll Make You So Hungry (3)

Ingredients: 3 beaten eggs4-5 diced 1/2 inch potatoes6-8 ramp onions1/2 lb pork sausage1/2 cup of American cheese1/2 teaspoon of salt1/2 cup of milkCook potatoes in pan of water until tender and soft. Steam the ramps over potatoes using metal strainer for 2 -3 minutes; chop ramps. Drain the potatoes and add the chopped ramps. In a skillet, fry the sausage and drain. Combine this with the potatoes, add eggs, cheese, salt and milk. Mix together in a baking dish and bake uncovered for 30 minutes at 350 degrees.

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8 Mouth-Watering Recipes For West Virginia Ramps That'll Make You So Hungry (4)

Ingredients: 1 tablespoon active dry yeast1/2 teaspoon granulated sugar3/4 cup buttermilk, at room temperature1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour, divided1/2 cup semolina flour2 teaspoons baking powder1 teaspoon sea salt1/2 teaspoon baking soda1 bunch ramps (just under 1/3 lb)10 tablespoons unsalted butter, 8 TBS very cold and cubed; 2 TBS melted8 tablespoons all-vegetable shortening In a small bowl, combine yeast, sugar, and 4 tablespoons of the all-purpose flour. Add buttermilk and whisk to combine. Cover the bowl and let set for about 30 minutes, there will be slight foaming. Wash and dry the ramps. Coarsely chop white and light green parts and mince about 2 tablespoons of the leaves. With a mixer, combine remaining flours, salt, baking powder, baking soda, and chopped ramps. Add butter and shortening and mix on medium-high until pebbly-looking. Form a well in the middle of the mixture and pour in the yeast mixture. Mix gently by hand until just combined. The dough should be kinda sticky. Using your hands with some flour on them, turn the dough out onto floured surface and knead gently just until it starts to have a little spring. Form dough into a ball and squish into a disc about 3/4 inch thick. Cut out circles using a biscuit cutter or, if you don’t have one, a regular glass works too. Brush the biscuits with melted butter and let set, uncovered, for about an hour. Preheat oven to 400 F. Place biscuits about an inch apart on baking sheets with wax paper on them and bake for about 18-20 minutes, or until browned, rotating the baking pans halfway through.

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8 Mouth-Watering Recipes For West Virginia Ramps That'll Make You So Hungry (5)

Ingredients:1 pound ramps, carefully washed, ends trimmed1 1/2 cups white wine vinegar or rice vinegar1 1/2 cups water1 1/2 cups sugar1/4 cup salt3 bay leaves1 tablespoon yellow or black mustard seed6 allspice berries1 pinch red pepper flakesCarefully put ramps into a clean quart-sized mason jar with a screw-top lid. Combine the remaining ingredients in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat and bring them to a boil, whisking until sugar and salt are dissolved. Pour hot brine over ramps, only enough to fill the jar and then get rid of the extra. Screw on the lid and allow to cool at room temperature. Move it to refrigerator and allow to set for at least 3 weeks and up to a year before eating.

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8 Mouth-Watering Recipes For West Virginia Ramps That'll Make You So Hungry (9)

Ingredients:Dough: 1 cup all-purpose flour1 1/2 teaspoons active dry yeast1/2 teaspoon salt1/4 teaspoon sugar1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons warm waterTopping:10 rampsExtra-virgin olive oil, for brushing1 cup coarsely grated fresh mozzarella cheese (4 oz)Salt and freshly ground black pepper1/4 cup freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheeseIn a large bowl, whisk the flour together with the yeast, salt and sugar. Pour in the water and stir to form a dough. Scrape the dough out onto a lightly floured countertop and knead for a few minutes until smooth. Move the pizza dough to a lightly oiled large bowl. Cover with plastic wrap or a damp paper towel and let stand in a warm place, like a microwave, until the pizza dough has doubled in size, about 1 1/2 hours.Set a pizza stone on the bottom or on the bottom shelf of the oven and preheat to 500° for at least 30 minutes. Bring a medium saucepan of salted water to a boil. Blanch the ramps until they are bright green, about 1 minute. Drain, pat dry and cut into 1-inch lengths.Punch down the pizza dough and transfer it to a lightly floured coutertop. Roll out the dough to a 12-inch round, about 1/8 inch thick. Transfer the dough to a lightly floured pizza pan or a baking sheet. Brush the dough with olive oil and sprinkle on the grated mozzarella. Sprinkle the blanched ramps over the mozzarella and season lightly with salt and pepper. Top the pizza with the Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese.Slide the pizza from the pizza pan onto the hot pizza stone. Bake for about 8 minutes, until the cheese has melted and the pizza crust is browned and crisp on the bottom. Move the pizza to a cutting board, serve immediately!

8 Mouth-Watering Recipes For West Virginia Ramps That'll Make You So Hungry (10)

Ingredients: 2 tablespoons butter1/2 pound hot Italian sausages, with the casing removed12 ramps; bulbs and slender stems sliced, green tops thinly sliced1 cup arborio rice1/2 cup dry vermouth3 cups low-salt chicken broth1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese, with some extra for toppingMelt the butter in large saucepan over medium heat and then add the sausage. Cook until no longer pink, and break it up as you go, for about 5 minutes. Add the sliced ramp bulbs and stems. Sautee until almost tender, for about 2 minutes. Add the rice and stir for about 1 minute. Add vermouth. Simmer until liquid is absorbed, for about 1 minute. Add 3 cups chicken broth, 1 cup at a time, simmering until almost absorbed before adding the next cup and stirring consistently. Continue cooking until rice is just tender and risotto is creamy, adding more broth if dry and stirring often, for about 18 to 20 minutes. Mix in green leafy tops and 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese. Season risotto to taste with salt and pepper. Serve immediately!

8 Mouth-Watering Recipes For West Virginia Ramps That'll Make You So Hungry (11)

Ingredients:Coarse salt1 pound dry spaghetti3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, with some also for drizzling onto it8 ounces fresh ramps, white root ends and green leafy tops separated1 to 2 tablespoons crushed red pepper flakes2 tablespoons dry breadcrumbsBring 6 quarts of water to a boil in a large saucepan over high heat. Add 2 tablespoons salt and return to a boil. Add spaghetti and cook according to package direction, until tender.Heat olive oil in a 12-to-14-inch skillet over medium-high heat. Add root ends from ramps to pan and cook, stirring, until tender. Season with red pepper flakes and salt. Add leafy greens from ramps and cook, stirring, until the leaves look wilted.Drain the pasta and add to the skillet. Toss it gently to coat pasta with sauce. Divide pasta evenly and then drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with breadcrumbs. Serve immediately.

8 Mouth-Watering Recipes For West Virginia Ramps That'll Make You So Hungry (12)

Ingredients: 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, room temperature2 to 3 ramps, cleaned, white part minced, green parts halved lengthwise and thinly sliced crosswise1/2 teaspoon lemon zest1/4 teaspoon coarse salt1/8 teaspoon ground black pepperMix all ingredients in a medium bowl until well combined. Transfer the butter mixture to a piece of plastic wrap and roll gently to form an even log; wrap and twist ends to seal. Butter may be kept refrigerated for up to 1 week.

Didn’t these sound just amazing!

My grandmother absolutely loves ramps! She is actually from Richwood, West Virginia! She just traveled to Nicholas County on April 18th to celebrate with the locals at the Ramp Festival.

What is your favorite ramp recipe?

Comment below!

OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.

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8 Mouth-Watering Recipes For West Virginia Ramps That'll Make You So Hungry (2024)

FAQs

What are the food ramps in West Virginia? ›

Ramps are known as wild leeks, which are native to West Virginia. They belong to the lily family and are close relatives of the onion and garlic. Ramps take advantage of the early spring sunlight to grow before the trees leaf out.

How to find ramps in WV? ›

Many West Virginians head to our state's public lands to find ramps of their own. Ramps prefer shade and will grow in large patches along the forest floor. If you're hunting in the woods, look under trees like oak, sugar maples, buckeyes or birch.

How do you cook ramps? ›

"Ramps, to me, are best grilled at a medium-high temperature until they are tender and charred. They are excellent served as the condiment to a moist white fish like halibut or bass and brushed with a touch of honey, soy, and mustard. This is an ultra healthy alternative and loaded with flavor."

Are ramps up in WV yet? ›

Ramps are only in season from late April to early June, creating a high demand for them in the summer months. They are also native to West Virginia, making them a part of WV's Appalachian culture!

Do ramps have any health benefits? ›

Meanwhile, wild ramps are rich in thiosulfinates and cepaenes, two sulfur compounds needed for blood clotting and thought to protect against certain types of cancer ( 14 , 15 , 16). compounds, especially kaempferol and allicin. These are thought to protect your body from disease.

Can you eat raw ramps? ›

Ramps can be eaten raw, like green onions or scallions, but they're frequently cooked down, like leeks. While they aren't as hardy as leeks, the leaves are much more resilient to heat than the delicate shoots of chives or scallions, so don't be afraid to add some to a stir-fry or side of sautéed greens.

Is it legal to sell ramps in WV? ›

While collecting ramps for personal use is permitted on the Forest within established limits, commercial harvesting of ramps in the Forest, including re-selling ramps collected for personal use, is prohibited.

Where do ramps thrive? ›

Ramps grow best under hardwood trees such as beech, birch, maple, tulip poplar, buckeye (Aesculus sp.), basswood, hickory (Carya sp.), and oak (Quercus sp.). They do not grow well under conifers. Ramps emerge from the forest floor in early spring and the leaves die back when the overstory trees fully leaf out.

Can I sell wild ramps? ›

Ramps have become increasingly popular in recent years, and demand for them is high among chefs and home cooks alike. If you're a forager and have access to wild ramps, selling them on Foraged is an excellent way to make some extra money.

How do you prepare and eat ramps? ›

To enjoy raw ramps, simply slice them and use them as you would scallions or chives. Sprinkle raw ramps into salads, on scrambled eggs, over the top of tacos, or on a baked potato with sour cream. You can cook whole ramps by tossing them lightly in olive oil and searing in a grill pan or on a hot barbecue.

Can I freeze ramps? ›

Ramps will stay fresh in your refrigerator for three to four days. Try wrapping them in newsprint—better yet, seal them in several plastic bags, unless you want everything in your refrigerator to taste like ramps. They can also be chopped, placed in an airtight container, and kept in the freezer for up to a year.

What part of ramps can you eat? ›

On first glance, ramps somewhat resemble spring onions; they both have stringy roots and thin stems. Unlike the young onion, ramps' green tops fan out into broad leaves. Their flavor is undeniably garlicky, which mellows once they're cooked. Like spring onions, you can eat ramps from top to bulb.

Why are ramps so expensive? ›

Ramps are highly sought after, mainly due to their extreme seasonality. Even when they're in season, supplies are usually limited and quickly exhausted. As a result, ramps tend to be sold at higher prices than similar vegetables.

How do you know when ramps are ready? ›

You can tell a healthy, mature patch by whether it flowers in the summer, covering mountainsides in white blooms. When harvesting ramps, consider leaving some of the bulbs in the ground so they can grow back next year; ramp patches spread well if you leave a few bulbs behind. You can still harvest the leaves.

How long do ramps last? ›

When stored correctly, ramps can stay fresh for about a full week. Treat your spring ramps just like chives and some other soft herbs. First, dampen a clean kitchen towel or a few paper towels. It should be damp and cool, but not wet.

What is another name for ramps food? ›

Allium tricoccum – commonly known as ramps but also is sometimes called wild leek, spring onion, or ramson – is frequently collected and sold at farmers markets or served in upscale restaurants in the spring as a delicacy for its strong garlic-like odor and sweet spring onion flavor.

How do you identify edible ramps? ›

Identifying Wild Ramps

Ramp leaves are bright green and grow up to a foot in length by about 3 inches wide. Generally, each plant has two leaves that are anchored below ground by a white bulb similar to that of green onion. The stem is also a great indicator.

What are ramps in Appalachian cooking? ›

The simple answer is that ramps are essentially a wild leek (that's allium tricoccum to you botanists) indigenous to the eastern United States and especially the Appalachian Mountains. Ramps have a spicy, pungent flavor similar to spring onions or garlic.

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