10 Of The Top Vegetables & Fruits Restaurants Use The Most

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Vegetables and fruits are a great way to bring the season’s bounty into the kitchen and onto the plates of hungry customers. With so much variety available, there are plenty of avenues of culinary exploration. E. Armata Inc. is a wholesale food distributor at the Hunts Point Market that provides quality products to restaurant owners! Continue reading to discover the most popular vegetables and fruits restaurants use! 

Top 10 Fruits and Vegetables Used By Restaurants

Trends in the restaurant industry are constantly changing, so it’s essential to stay ahead of the competition and provide the best quality fruits and vegetables to your customers. Buying wholesale produce at the Hunts Point Market is a great way to ensure you get high-quality produce at a great price. Here are some of the top vegetables and fruits restaurants use:

  1. Leafy Greens – Kale, spinach, mesclun greens, and other greens are restaurant staples for salads and delicious sides. 
  2. Heirloom Fruits and Vegetables – Heirloom fruits and vegetables like tomatoes and rainbow carrots can freshen up your menu and stand out to guests looking for the latest culinary trends. 
  3. Herbs – Herbs can be a great addition to your food and cocktail menus. Refresh your menu by adding herbs like basil, mint, and parsley from the Hunts Point Market. 
  4. Tropical Fruits – Tropical fruits like pineapple and coconut have become popular and commonplace in the restaurant industry. You can add these fruits to your dishes and cocktails to provide a unique experience to your guests. 
  5. Superfruits – Superfruits like acai and goji berries are packed with healthy antioxidants that customers crave. 
  6. Hybrids – Many fruits and vegetables like tomatoes, melons, corn, and carrots are hybridized and have become quite popular. Consider spicing up your menu with innovative hybrid fruits and vegetables. 
  7. Avocados – Avocados have had a recent surge in popularity. From avocado toast to fresh guacamole, incorporating avocados into your menu will surely impress your customers. 
  8. Legumes – Beans and legumes like chickpeas and lentils are a healthy vegetarian source of protein that can be an excellent replacement for meat for plant-based customers! 
  9. Brussels Sprouts – Brussels sprouts may not have always been a fan favorite, but this cruciferous vegetable has grown in popularity among restaurants. Try roasting them with bacon, shallots, or pine nuts!
  10. Nuts – Nuts are used in various roles, including baking, as a snack, or as a flavoring. Nuts have seen a dramatic increase in use and popularity in restaurants all across the globe! 

Contact Us At The Hunts Point Market

Having a well-thought-out menu that includes popular vegetables and fruits can make a significant difference for your guests. E. Armata Inc. is one of the largest wholesale operations at the Hunts Point Market. Our vast selection of fruits and vegetables is sure to satisfy your customers and keep you on top of the latest restaurant trends. To learn more about our products and operation, be sure to contact us today!

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Butternut Squash Recipes For Dinner (Vegan)

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Are you looking for new and exciting ways to incorporate more plant-based options into your diet? Butternut squash can be a delicious and nutritious addition to your weeknight meals! As one of the best produce companies in New York, E. Armata Inc. is committed to providing fresh seasonal vegetables to our customers. Continue reading to discover some delicious vegan recipes using butternut squash! 

Health Benefits of Butternut Squash

Butternut squash is a delicious vegetable distributed by our produce companies in New York that is packed with nutrients. Butternut squash is a fantastic source of beta-carotene, which converts to vitamin A and acts as an antioxidant. This can help improve your heart, eye, lung, and skin health. Butternut squash is also rich in vitamin C, which supports immunity. 

Butternut Squash Recipes For Dinner

Spice up your weeknight meals with some of these delicious, vegan-friendly recipes using butternut squash from our produce companies in New York:

Butternut Squash Mac and Cheese

Ingredients:

  • Butternut squash.
  • Macaroni noodles.
  • Raw cashews.
  • Onion. 
  • Lemon juice. 
  • Mustard. 
  • Salt, pepper, garlic powder, paprika, turmeric, nutmeg. 

To make vegan butternut squash macaroni and cheese, start by cooking the macaroni according to the package directions. Save one cup of pasta water to add to the sauce later. Scoop out the squash seeds, peel the skin, and chop the squash into cubes. Thinly slice your onion, then add the squash, onion, and raw cashews to a pot and cover with water. Cook this mixture until the squash is tender, then add the vegetables and cashews to a blender along with the remaining ingredients. Blend until smooth, stir the sauce into the cooked macaroni and enjoy!

Butternut Squash Spinach Curry

Ingredients:

  • Squash.
  • Coconut milk.
  • Onion.
  • Garlic.
  • Chilis.
  • Curry powder.
  • Cornflour.  
  • Spinach.
  • Lemon juice.
  • Rice (for serving).

To make the curry, saute onions, garlic, chili, and curry powder. Add in the cornflour, then gradually add water while stirring to incorporate and remove any lumps. Add your chopped butternut squash and coconut milk, then simmer until the squash is tender. Just before serving, add in the spinach and squeeze in lemon juice. Serve your butternut squash curry over rice and enjoy! 

Contact Our Produce Companies in New York

Consider using these butternut squash recipes next time you decide to cook a vegan-friendly dinner! Our produce companies in New York at E. Armata Inc. are committed to providing you with fresh produce all year round. To learn about more ways you can use squash or for general inquiries, be sure to contact us today!

Classic Ambrosia Salad Recipe

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Recipe courtesy of Delish

This fun and delicious salad recipe is perfect for eating healthy but also enjoying a tasty meal! The combination of ingredients will provide you with a tangy yet sweet treat. We recommend sitting outside and eating this salad while enjoying the beautiful summer weather!

Ingredients 

  • 1 1/2 c. Cool Whip
  • 1/2 c. sour cream
  • 3 c. mini marshmallows
  • 1 (15-oz.) can mandarin oranges, drained
  • 1 c. chopped fresh pineapple
  • 1 c. shredded coconut
  • 3/4 c. halved maraschino cherries (stems removed), drained
  • 3/4 c. toasted pecans

Directions

  1. In a large bowl, fold together Cool Whip and sour cream. Add oranges, pineapple, cherries, coconut, pecans, and marshmallows and stir gently.
  2. Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour and up to overnight.

Thank you for taking the time to check out this fun salad recipe that you can try for the whole family! If you’re interested in viewing more of the recipes listed on our website, we recommend that you check out our recipe archives by following the link listed here.

Are you also perhaps interested in our produce distribution services? E. Armata INC is a produce wholesaler operating out of the Hunts Point Market in the Bronx, New York. If you’d like to get in touch with a member of our team, please fill out a form on our website by clicking here.

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Best Valentine’s Day Recipes

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Best Valentine’s Day Recipes

This Valentines Day, why not show your loved one you care by cooking them a decadent dessert? If you decide to go down this route, you’ll need to make sure you use the right ingredients. By purchasing produce from us here at E. Armata Inc., you will undoubtedly enhance your dish. As a staple of the Hunts Point Market, we would like to share a few recipes perfect for Valentine’s Day when made with our ingredients.

 

Vodka Chocolate-Covered Strawberries

Trying this recipe will help you combine two of the best things about Valentine’s Day, chocolate, and alcohol. Making sure you buy the strawberries from us here at the Hunts Point Market will only work to enhance this treat as well. It is a relatively simple dessert to make, only needing the below ingredients for it to come out great:

  • 3 cups of whole strawberries.
  • 1.5 cups of Vodka.
  • 1.5 cups of semisweet chocolate chips.
  • 2 teaspoons of coconut oil.

 

Classic Linzer Cookies

Although Linzer cookies are typically a Holiday treat, they become the perfect Valentine’s Day cookie with a straightforward adjustment. By simply cutting a heart into the top of each cookie, it does not become hard to see why you should be making them this February 14th. The delicious mix of a rich cookie and fruity, sweet jam is enough to make your taste buds water just at the thought of this treat. Feel free to click here to view the full recipe and cooking instructions, you won’t be disappointed!  

 

Other Recipes To Try  

The best part about visiting us at Hunts Point Market is that you can purchase many fruits and vegetables. With such a wide variety, there is an abundance of recipes you can create with them. When you plan on cooking this Valentine’s Day, we highly recommend trying the below:

 

Contact Us At The Hunts Point Market

Here at E. Armata Inc., we’re happy to help customers in any way we can. If you need top-quality ingredients this Valentine’s Day, look no further than our operation here at the Hunts Point Market. To have any of your questions regarding our process or produce answered, be sure to contact us today!

Blueberry Pie Bars with Oatmeal Crumble

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Blueberry Pie Bars with Oatmeal Crumble

Recipe & Photo courtesy of AmbitiousKitchen.com 

 

Ingredients 

 

For the crust and crumble:

  • 1 ½ cups gluten-free oat flour (or sub-all-purpose flour)
  • 1 cup old-fashioned rolled oats, gluten-free if desired
  • ½ cup packed brown sugar (or sub coconut sugar but you may not get the best ‘crumble’)
  • ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • ¼ teaspoon baking soda
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • 8 tablespoons butter or vegan buttery stick, melted
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • ¼ teaspoon almond extract

 

For the filling:

  • 2 1/2 heaping cups fresh or frozen blueberries
  • 3 tablespoons pure maple syrup
  • 1 tablespoon cornstarch or arrowroot starch
  • ⅛ teaspoon almond extract
  • Optional to make the with a hint of lemon flavor: zest from 1 lemon
  • Pinch of salt

 

Directions

  1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line an 8×8 inch pan with parchment paper and generously spray with nonstick cooking spray. Set aside.
  2. Make the base + topping: In a large bowl, use a fork to mix together the oat flour, oats, coconut sugar, cinnamon, baking soda, and salt. Add in melted butter, vanilla extract, and almond extract and stir until a nice crumble forms and dough begins to clump together. 
  3. Place 1 3/4 cups of the mixture into the prepared pan and place the remaining mixture into the fridge (the remaining mixture will be used for the topping). Use your hands to evenly press the dough to the bottom of the pan.
  4. Next, make your blueberry pie filling: place a medium pot over medium heat. Add in blueberries, maple syrup, almond extract, cornstarch (or arrowroot), and salt. Use a wooden spoon to press down and break down the blueberries just a bit. 
  5. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and cook for 3-5 more minutes until the mixture is thickened up and nicely coats the back of a spoon. 
  6. Pour mixture over the crust and use a spoon to evenly spread.
  7. Take the remaining topping out of the fridge. By now there should be some nice crumbles that have clumped together. Sprinkle the topping over the blueberry filling. 
  8. Bake for 30 minutes or until filling is bubbly and the topping is golden. 
  9. Allow bars to cool completely on a wire rack before transferring to the fridge to chill. Bars are delicious served at room temperature or straight out of the fridge. Use a sharp knife to cut into 16 bars before serving.

Jalapeno Sweet Potato Black Bean Tacos with Avocado Lime Crema

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Recipe Courtesy & Photo courtesy of Ambitious Kitchen.

Ingredients

For the Avocado Lime Cream – 

  • 1/4 cup 2% plain Greek yogurt
  • 1/2 avocado
  • 1/4 cup water, to thin
  • 1/2 teaspoon chili powder or chipotle chili powder
  • Grated zest and juice of 1/2 lime
  • 1/4 cup chopped cilantro
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt

For the Tacos – 

  • 1 1/2 tablespoons coconut oil
  • 1 tablespoon brown sugar or coconut sugar
  • 1 garlic clove, minced
  • 1 teaspoon chili powder
  • 2 cups cubed sweet potatoes (from 1 large or 2 smaller sweet potatoes)
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
  • 4 corn tortillas, warmed or at room temp

For the Topping: 

  • 1/2 cup black beans
  • Jalapeño slices
  • Cabbage
  • Fresh chopped cilantro
  • Optional: Extra avocado slices

 

Directions

  1. To make the tacos: Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. In a small bowl, whisk together the coconut oil, brown sugar, minced garlic, and chili powder. 
  2. Place the sweet potatoes on a baking sheet and pour mixture over the top. Season with salt and pepper and toss well to coat. Roast for 30-40 minutes, tossing a bit halfway through.
  3. While the tacos are cooking, prepare your avocado lime crema, by adding all crema ingredients to a blender or food processor and processing until smooth and creamy. Add additional water if necessary to thin out.
  4. Assemble the tacos by filling the tortillas with the sweet potatoes. Top with the cabbage, black beans, avocado, jalapenos and a drizzle of the avocado lime crema. Serves 2; make 2-3 tacos per person. Feel free to double the recipe for meal prep.