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Seasonal Treats for August
It’s the height of the English summer (hopefully), and we’re serving up some choice local ingredients that work as well on the barbecue as they do in the kitchen!
fennel
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Originally a Mediterranean native, fennel is in season in the UK from July to September, and in tip-top condition this month. It’s got a similar taste profile to anise and is fantastic with fish such as grilled mackerel. It’s also good in a vegetable risotto with rosemary, lemon and parmesan. There are so many ways to make the most of its exotic flavour, including roasting or chargrilling the bulb either whole or in thick slices on the barbecue. You can also use it raw – just wash it, then slice finely and serve in a simple green salad.
Sweetcorn
The most important thing to note about sweetcorn is that it’s best eaten very fresh, as its sugars start turning into starch as soon as it’s picked. Enjoy your cobs boiled for five to ten minutes until just tender, or barbecued for 25-30 minutes (wrap them in foil first to prevent them from drying out).
Aubergine
Once upon a time, you’d be advised to slice and generously salt it before use to remove its bitterness, but today’s aubergines are not usually bitter, so the salt can be used more sparingly for seasoning. They are a great addition to the barbecue – try them halved lengthways and grilled, or cut into chunks and threaded on a kebab stick with the meat or veg of your choice (they’re lovely with halloumi cheese cubes, too). Blister the skins under a grill or over a gas flame if you want to give them a deliciously smoky flavour.
It’s naturally fabulous with fish and a doddle to prepare – just wash well then boil for a couple of minutes before serving with a drizzle of olive oil.
August’s shopping list
British apples, beetroot, blackberries, blackcurrants, blueberries, broad beans, broccoli, carrots, cauliflower, chard, courgette, cucumber, fennel, lamb’s lettuce, onion, pak choi, peas, plums, raspberries, rocket, spinach, tomatoes,
watercress
By Gill Mullins, a freelance writer and journalist at www.superhappycontent.com
