Seasonal Treats for February

Shopping and eating seasonal ingredients is not only great for the planet, prices are generally much cheaper too which means it is kinder on your budget too. Bring some cheer to meal times in the depths of winter with these home-grown seasonal superstars.

Cauliflower

With a mild flavour when properly cooked – overboiling should be a criminal offence! – cauliflower can easily take on the taste of any ingredients it’s used with. There is, of course, the comforting classic of cauliflower cheese but its meaty texture also makes cauliflower a perfect replacement for vegetarian dishes. Cut into 5cm-thick steaks, steam until just tender, then add to a hot frying pan and sear in butter before roasting for 10 minutes until caramelised.

Forced rhubarb

When there isn’t much fresh produce around, forced rhubarb brings a touch of brightness to winter menus. It’s traditionally grown in almost complete darkness in heated sheds and hand-picked between January and March by candlelight. Forced rhubarb’s eccentric cultivation results in pretty pink stalks that need no peeling, as they are far more tender than the outdoor-grown version, and they keep their shape better when cooked, too – and without a hint of stringiness. To prep, simply trim and remove the toxic leaves before cooking or freezing.

Jerusalem artichoke

Never likely to win first prize in a vegetable beauty contest, bang-inseason Jerusalem artichoke is a small, lumpy tuber that’s no relation to its rather more gorgeous globe namesake. But what it lacks in the looks department, it more than makes up for in taste. With a nutty, earthy flavour, it can be used both raw and cooked, but you do need to cook or serve it fast once you’ve trimmed and sliced it, as otherwise, it starts to oxidise and lose its depth of flavour. It goes well with earthy fish like gurnard, white fish such as cod, grey mullet and sea bass, or white meat like chicken or pork. Try it sliced and fried in butter, spiralised in a crunchy salad, or roasted. february’s seasonal shopping list:

Brussel sprouts, Cabbages (all types), Carrots, Cauliflower, Celeriac, Chard, Chicory, Forced rhubarb, Jerusalem artichoke, Kale, Leeks, Onions, Parsnips, Potatoes, Purple sprouting broccoli, Spanish, Spring greens, Swede, Turnips

By Gill Mullins, freelance writer at www.superhappycontent.com