Ramps are not exactly leeks. Here's an article from Time about them http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1981446,00.html
They have a green leaf top and a small white bulb at the bottom, the whole plant is eatable. I cleaned the ramps and some asparagus, tossed it with a bit of olive oil, sea salt, and fresh black pepper and tossed them into a grill pan while I was cooking a butterflied chicken on the grill.
The taste is very similar to a leek or a spring onion. But the price is way more because, AFAIK, they are not grown commercially. They grow on forrest floors on the east coast from N.Carolina to Canada. Now that I know what they are, I've been on the look out, but haven't found any in the wild.
I would imagine they could be used quite nicely in place of leeks in many recipes, including potato leek soup. I absolutely love leeks. Trying to grow some in my garden, if it ever warms up in Connecticut.
Thanks! That sounds really delicious. I’ll look for them, if I don’t find ramp, will try your recipe with leaks. I’m not positive but I think I remember seeing them grow as a kid in the woods next to my house. They smelled really good.
I’ll plant some Peppers, tomatoes few other things soon. I’ll look for Ramps too. :)