Its the beginning of February and winter is in full swing! With the cold weather making us yearn for a bit of comfort it’s the ideal time for warm hearty foods to chase away our calendar based blues.
Foods that are in season
- Vegetables: Beetroot, Brussels Sprouts, Cabbage, Carrots, Cauliflower, Celeriac, Chicory, Jerusalem Artichokes, Kale, Leeks, Lettuce, Mushrooms, Mustard and Cress, Parsnips, Potatoes, Purple Sprouting Broccoli, Seakale, Spring Greens, Spring Onions, Squash, Swedes, Turnip, Watercress
- Fruits: Apples, pears
- Meat: Chicken, Gammon, Goose, Pheasant, Turkey, Venison, Wild Duck
- Fish: Clams, Cockles, Cod, Dover Sole, Haddock, King Scallops, Lemon Sole, Mackerel, Megrim (Cornish) Sole, Monkfish, Pollock
Foods going out of season
Here are the foods that will be going out of season by the end of the month
- Vegetables: Shallots
- Fish: Mussels
So know you know what homegrown produce is on offer in the UK, here are some ways to use them!
Apples
February is good for both dessert and cooking apples. Crumbles are a great use for cooking apples. You can also try chutneys, pies and cobblers. These sweet treats make great deserts or the perfect warm snack on a cold day.
Mussels
You can buy mussels all year round but they are in their prime at the start of the year! They can be smoked, boiled, steamed, roasted, fried or even barbecued. Muscles are going out of season at the end of February so you should try mussels marinière! is tasty, cheap, easy and you can make it in under 10 minutes.
Cauliflower
Cauliflower is a very versatile and healthy vegetable. It can be used in all types of cooking, as it takes of flavour easily. Cauliflower cheese can brighten up the dullest of days but why not try using it in Indian cooking?
Pollock
If you are wanting to eat more sustainably pollock is a good option! Pollock is similar to cod and haddock in texture and taste which makes it is a good alternative.We suggest using it in the British classic fish pie! If you can find smoked pollock its excellent in the Scottish soup cullen skink, this soup is rich, creamy and utterly delicious!
Jerusalem artichoke
Jerusalem artichokes can be prepared in a similar way to potatoes or parsnips. They are particularly good roasted as it brings out their flavour fully! They are also very good in soups!
Leeks
Leeks are bountiful in February and this should be taken advantage of! They can be used in the same way as onions; fried, roasted or as a base for things like soup. The go-to recipe for leeks has to be leek and potato soup but they are great in everything from frittatas to savoury pies.
Events
There are two big events in February: Valentine’s day and the Chinese new year. For Valentine’s day, a good option could be to use wild duck as it is in abundance this time of year. Try duck a l’Orange, it’s a classic and for good reason, it’s pretty delicious. It’s also a great time for venison. The deer population in the UK is huge making venison a great choice! For a slightly more informal Valentine’s day meal opt for a venison burger.
If you want to celebrate the Chinese new year you can make crispy Peking duck in pancakes (a personal favourite of mine) or you can try making veggie dumplings with some of the in-season on our list! Cabbage, mushroom, spring onion and carrots are all traditional dumpling ingredients and they are all in season!