Food in Season: September
| Published: 11th September 2008 13:12 |
Although the weather is still mild, Autumn is here. Gone are the Summer salad vegetables, giving way to hearty root vegetables and dark iron rich leafy greens. The game season progresses with a greater variety becoming available - Duck, Grouse, Guinea Fowl, Venison and Wood pigeon are all in season in September. Wild mushrooms are starting to appear in woodland, and this year should be a bumper harvest with all the warm damp weather. A wide variety of white fish is particularly good at this time of year - Cod, Dover Sole, Haddock, Halibut, John Dory, Lemon sole, Monkfish and Turbot are all in season. Blackberries, damsons, plums and apples are ripening in the hedgerow ready to be picked. Walnuts are also in season, reminding us a little too early that Christmas is approaching.
Apples
A staple in our fruit bowls all year round, but now it is the time for English apples. Apples are not really considered as anything special, but there are so many varieties with such diverse flavours, sweetness, texture and uses that they are a star of the season. Used in both sweet and savoury dishes and high in fibre, vitamin C and potassium, the humble apple deserves some respect.
Try the Tart au Tatin recipe.
Blackberries
Everyone remembers picking blackberries as a child, those sweet like little gems found in the hedgerow and the purple stained fingers that gave you away. Blackberries are high in vitamin C - just 10 berries will provide you with 19% of your recommended daily amount! Blackberries are one of the few English native fruits. Legend has it that blackberries should not be eaten after 10 October because ‘during the night the Devil goes by and spits on every bush', well that's the polite version anyway. Blackberries make a wonderful sauce to accompany game or pork, and are also the perfect accompaniment to apples or pears in desserts.
Try the recipe for Blackberries & Pears Baked in Marzipan or the Apple & Blackberry Kuchen.
Duck
Wild duck is leaner and more flavourful than the farmed variety. If cooked correctly duck is not at all fatty but a dense gamey meat with a rich flavour. Duck is complemented by astringent sauces such as lemon, orange, blackberry, cherry or plum. The breast has a tendency to dry out and so is best cooked separate to the legs. Duck can be preserved in the traditional manner of making a confit, which basically means cooking it very slowly in its own fat and then preserving it in a sterilised jar under the fat. The confit duck can then be used later to make the classic French dish cassoulet.
Try the Chinese-style Crispy Duck with a Spicy Damson Sauce.
Damsons
Damsons are deep autumnal purple with a bright yellow flesh. Too acidic to eat straight from the tree, this miniature plum is great for jam and jelly making, stewed as a base for a pudding, to flavour Gin or as a spicy chutney.
Try the Damson Jam recipe.
Pears
Pears when eaten ripe are delicious, but if eaten under-ripe they are hard and juiceless. If over-ripe they tend to be a little mushy and over develop their flavour. A member of the rose family closely related to apples and quinces, pears are a good source of vitamin C, vitamin K, copper, potassium and fibre. They are also a very versatile fruit that can be baked, juiced, poached, made into liqueurs, and are also used in the production Perry.
Two recipes you could try are Poached Pears with Chocolate Sauce and Pickled Pears.
Butternut Squash
Becoming more and more popular in recent years, the butternut squash has a deep orange firm flesh similar to pumpkin. When buying a squash, test the flesh and if you can push a fingernail into the rind of a squash it will be lacking in flavour and sweetness. However, if it is fresh it will feel heavy for its size, as it slowly looses water after picking. Butternut squash is a great alternative to potatoes and can be mashed, boiled, roasted or made into chips. It also makes a great weaning food for babies.
Try the Spicy Roast Butternut Squash recipe.
Turbot
One of the most highly regarded fish in the world, turbot is not cheap but has beautifully firm white flesh with an incredible subtle flavour. Medium-sized fish - 2.5 to 3.5 kg - are the ones to look for, as small ones are not sustainable and larger ones loose their delicate texture. Turbot is a flat fish so can be easier to fillet, although you can have your fishmonger do it for you.
Try the Turbot Poached in White Wine recipe.
Wild Mushrooms
Although the idea of foraging may appeal, a spell in hospital doubtlessly won't so if you're no great mushroom expert then buy yours from the farmer's market (see the What's On When Calendar left for details of the next one). The wild mushroom season is just beginning - in season are Horn of plenty, Parasol, Girolle, Chanterelle and of course the Penny bun or Cepe. Mushrooms absorb water readily and therefore should not be washed but cleaned thoroughly with a soft brush. The easiest way to enjoy mushrooms is to fry them simply in butter and add a little parsley and seasoning when cooked.
Try the recipe for Wild Mushroom Risotto or for a totally indulgent Sunday lunch try Beef & Wild Mushroom Wellington.
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