Things you can make with Zucchini

E. Armata TeamJune 26, 2018

Zucchini Tips

Zucchini is an underused vegetable in the kitchen. Zucchini can be a dish itself or an accent to a meal. Zucchini’s versatility allows you to ditch some of your heavy carb meals and replace them with a lighter, healthier zucchini dish. You might be thinking, what can I make with zucchini? Well, the answer is you can use zucchini in all three meals of the day! E. Armata, a produce distributor in NYC, works directly with growers to distribute zucchini to your local “mom and pop” grocers.

Have you thought to use zucchini in your pancakes?

Well, zucchini pancakes are a fantastic healthy breakfast alternative. Zucchini adds a sweet taste and a moist texture to your breakfast. Our produce distributor in NYC recommends adding pecans or walnuts to your pancakes to add the crunch you are looking for. Zucchini pancakes take 20 minutes to complete, and this recipe will feed 4-6 hungry zucchini lovers. Basic ingredients include:

1 Cup Wheat Flour
1 Cup Purpose Flour
2 Tablespoons Brown Sugar
2 Teaspoons Baking Powder
1 ½ Teaspoons Cinnamon
½ Teaspoons Nutmeg
½ Salt
2 Cups Buttermilk
2 Eggs
1 Teaspoon Vanilla
1 Cup Zucchini
½ Cup Chopped Pecans or walnuts
Butter and syrup to serve

Add the flours, brown sugar, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt into one bowl. Then, combine the buttermilk, eggs, and vanilla and stir until they are mixed well. Then it is time to add your pecans or walnuts. Heat your griddle to mid-heat and pour about ¼ cup of batter for one pancake. Cook for one-two minutes and then repeat until you are out of batter. Your zucchini pancakes are now finished!

Zucchini ravioli is a staple dish you can make for lunch or dinner.

Zucchini ravioli is a healthier alternative to pasta ravioli. To make this delicious recipe, you will need the following ingredients:

4 zucchini from your produce distributor in NYC
1 cup ricotta
¼ cup parmesan
1 egg
¼ cup chopped spinach
2 tablespoons basil
¼ teaspoon nutmeg
⅛ teaspoon pepper
1 ½ cups marinara sauce

To top your ravioli:

½ cup mozzarella
2 tablespoons parmesan
2 tablespoons olive oil
Salt
Pepper
Basil

Preheat your oven to 375 degrees and peel your zucchini into long strips. In a separate bowl begin to mix ricotta, egg, parmesan, basil, spinach, salt, pepper, and nutmeg. Next, cover the bottom of a pan with marinara sauce.

To turn your zucchini strips into ravioli, create a flat “T” shape on the counter, then add one spoonful of your filling in the center of the “T.” Overlap the zucchini strips, place your ravioli into your baking dish and add your toppings. Bake your ravioli for 30 minutes. Your delicious healthy alternative to pasta ravioli is now finished!

With the help of your produce distributor in NYC, you now have great zucchini meals you can add to your cooking arsenal. If you have any questions, contact us today!

Keep Your Fruits And Vegetables Fresh During The Summer

E. Armata TeamJune 19, 2018

Fresh Summer Fruits and Vegetables

Click The Image To Learn More About Our Hunts Point Produce Market

Summer is the best time for many of your favorite fruits and vegetables. However, keeping them fresh in the heat during the summer months can be difficult. The best way to ensure you will enjoy fresh, delicious fruits and vegetables all summer long is to get your produce from a trusted source. E. Armata Inc. is a family run fruit and produce wholesaler in the Hunts Point Market committed to providing the best quality products available to all of our customers.

Fruit

From peaches to blueberries to watermelon, summer is the optimal time for many of your favorite fruits. Here are some tips to help you keep your fruit fresh as long as possible.

Melons – If you have a melon that is ready to eat but don’t want to cut into it quite yet, store it in the fridge. Melons can keep about 10 days in cold temperatures, not to mention biting into a cold melon adds a satisfying crunch.
Peaches and Nectarines – Peaches and nectarines are fun additions to tasty desserts and a great on-the-go snack. They should be bought firm and kept at room temperature.
Berries – Berries are as delicious as they are delicate. To delay mold and mushiness berries often succumb to, do not wash them until the moment you want to eat them. A quick soak in hot water can also help destroy bacteria and mold spores.
Apples – In the summer, apples should be stored in the fridge but in the fall, they should remain out on the counter.

Vegetables

Follow these tips to protect your vegetables from the destructive heat and humidity during the summer months and contact E. Armata at Hunts Point Market to get the highest quality products available for your store or restaurant.

Avocados – In warm weather, avocados will ripen even faster than usual. However, do not store them in the fridge unless they are cut. Squirt some lime or lemon juice and cover with plastic wrap to prolong its freshness.
Corn – Store your corn in the fridge in a plastic bag with the husk on, but cut off the shank. The corn will remain fresh for about two days
Broccoli & Lettuce – Keep your greens as crisp as possible by wrapping them in tin foil before storing them in the fridge.
Peppers – Keep your peppers unwashed, in a plastic bag in the fridge for optimal crispness.

Fresh produce is essential to a healthy diet and using these tips will ensure you get the most out of the delicious fruits and vegetables summer has to offer. Another way is to be certain you are getting the freshest produce available. E. Armata, Inc. is a 4th generation wholesaler in the Hunts Point Market, New York. Working directly with grower/ shippers guarantees the best quality products on the market. Call us today at (718-991-5600) to learn more.

All About Oranges

E. Armata TeamJune 10, 2018

Facts About Oranges

Oranges are a great snack or ingredient in many recipes. Their juicy, sweet, citrus taste not only refreshes you on a hot summer day but also has many health benefits such as boosting your immune system, improving your skin, and helping heart health. E. Armata Inc., a produce distributor in NYC, sources a variety of vitamin-c enriched fruit from all around the world. With long-standing relationships with both growers and shippers, we always carry the freshest ingredients available all year-round.

Navel

Navels can be identified from their “button,” which can be found on the opposite end of their stem. Due to their seedless interior and sweet flavor, Navels are the perfect orange to eat or add to a salad.

Valencia

When you think of what an orange looks like, you think of a Valencia. They are medium in size, have thinner skin and are filled with seeds. Because of this as well as their sweet, tart taste, they are best used to make juice.

Satsuma

Unlike other oranges, Satsumas have skin that is very loose which makes them easy to peel. This seedless, tangerine is often grown around the Gulf Coast in the U.S due to their cold hardiness.

Blood

Like their name implies, blood oranges are famous for their deep red flesh. At E.Armata, a produce distributor in NYC, we believe that because of their more tart flavor it makes them a great orange to use for both savory and sweet dishes.

Cara Cara

Harvested in California, these oranges may appear to be stereotypical but have a pink, red-tinted interior. Their sweet, bitter, tang allows the Cara Cara to be great to eat alone, and even better to add to a salad.

Clementine

Clementines are small, making them the best to eat out of hand. Like a tangerine, they have a sweet flavor which makes them a popular choice to snack on in addition to their seedless interior.

Tangerine

Tangerines are smaller than oranges but have a brighter skin, bigger pores, and a looser peel. Because of their juiciness, they are great for eating on the go but also great to make a sweeter orange juice.

Murcott

Also known as the “Honey Tangerine,” Murcotts are a cross between a tangerine and a sweet orange. They are easy to peel and have a rich flavor making them a popular choice for a produce distributor in NYC.

Minneola

Minneolas are a cross between a tangerine and a grapefruit and are nicknamed “The Honey Bell,” because of their bell shape. Seedless, large, and tart are all characteristics that set Minneolas apart.

Tangelo

Often mistaken as an unusually shaped orange, this bright red, fruit is a hybrid between a grapefruit and a tangerine. This is seen through their sweet taste and tart aftertaste.

Temple

Originated in Jamaica, Temple oranges are a mix of tangerines and oranges due to their sweet and tart mix of flavors. They also contain a high juice content which makes them a great snack, and great for juices and jams.

At E. Armata, a produce distributor in NYC, we provide the finest quality produce, along with first-rate service. If you are interested in learning more about our fruit and produce, contact us here.

How To Select The Perfect Avocado

E. Armata TeamJune 1, 2018

Summer is the best time for a very popular super-food: avocado. Avocado is delicious on toast, in a salad, on a burger, in a smoothie and of course in guacamole. As delicious as avocados can be, they can also be very temperamental, sometimes only staying fresh for a day or two. The best way to ensure you will enjoy fresh, delicious fruits and vegetables all summer long is to get your produce from a trusted source. E. Armata Inc. is a family run fruit and produce wholesaler in Hunts Point Market committed to providing the best quality products available to all of their customers.

How to pick the perfect avocado

It can be difficult to tell when an avocado is ready to eat. One reason for that is because avocados do not ripen until they are harvested. If you are shopping a few days in advance, buying an avocado that is not yet ripe is your best bet. There are two main factors that determine the ripeness of an avocado:

Color – darker avocados are usually riper than lighter green avocados.
Pressure – gently squeezing an avocado can tell you if it is ready to eat. If the avocado does not give at all it may not be ripe yet. If it feels mushy or soft, it may be overripe. A perfectly ripe avocado will give a little bit when squeezed, but not change shape.

Once you get home

If you are not planning on eating your avocado immediately, there are some ways to slow down the ripening process so that your avocados won’t go bad before you get to eat them. In warm weather, avocados will ripen even faster than usual. However, do not store them in the fridge unless they are cut. Squirt some lime or lemon juice and cover with plastic wrap to prolong its freshness.

Apart from being delicious, avocados have numerous health benefits. Avocados contain more potassium than bananas, they are high in fiber and antioxidants, and may even help prevent cancer. Avocados, like all produce are best fresh. Now more than ever it is important to be sure you are getting the freshest produce available for your restaurant or store. E. Armata, Inc. is a 4th generation wholesaler in the Hunts Point Market, New York. Working directly with grower/ shippers guarantees the best quality products on the market. Call us today at (718-991-5600) to learn more.

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