February may look like one huge chilly Tuesday, however look nearer and it’s much more action-packed than you’d suppose. There’s Pancake Day and, prefer it or not, it’s Valentine’s Day too. This may be the proper alternative to cook dinner and impress somebody particular or just keep away from these crowded eating places.
The seasonal recipes under would all work very properly as a comfortable dinner for 2 however might simply be bumped up for a crowd in case you’re throwing an different bash with buddies. Try extra high ideas for a profitable Valentine’s Day.
BBC Good Meals’s Miriam Good has teamed up with Emma Crawforth of Gardeners’ World that can assist you develop, cook dinner and eat the perfect of the season.
What produce is in season in February?
Salsify
Sow seeds in spring, in an open, sunny web site in free-draining soil, freed from stones and ideally improved with natural matter the earlier 12 months. To get the perfect crop, as with carrots, your soil must be deep sufficient for roots to penetrate far down. Sow into drills (shallow channels within the soil) 10cm aside, so you may skinny the seedlings to a neat row of crops. Hold the realm weed-free and water throughout dry spells. To reap the roots, fork them out solely when wanted; they gained’t maintain nicely out of the bottom and are sticky to deal with if broken. Emma
Salsify crumpets
Combine collectively 1 tbsp crème fraîche and 1 tsp Dijon mustard, and put aside. Scrub and peel 2 sticks of salsify and minimize into batons, roughly 5-6cm lengthy, then toss them within the juice of ½ lemon to cease them discolouring. Warmth 1 tbsp vegetable oil in a big non-stick frying pan and fry the salsify for 2-3 minutes, then add 1 tbsp butter. Flip the warmth down and cook dinner gently for 10-12 minutes, or till the salsify is smooth and golden. Hold the salsify heat when you poach 4 eggs. High 4 crumpets with a beneficiant pinch of grated mature cheddar and grill till melted and effervescent. Sprinkle the cooked, buttery salsify with a pinch of grated nutmeg and season. Pile the salsify over the crumpets, then high with a poached egg every and the mustardy crème fraîche. Serve with a few chopped chives, some black pepper and a drizzle of butter from the pan. Serves 2
Winter cabbage
Leafy winter cabbage is at it is best from October to April.
Do that garlicky linguine with cabbage & anchovy from meals author Silvana Franco. This thrifty dish of pasta, cabbage and herby ‘pangrattato’ breadcrumbs is scrumptious in its simplicity.
See extra recipes in our cabbage assortment.
Compelled rhubarb
Preserving the rhubarb crowns in darkness for a couple of weeks makes the shoots develop seeking gentle sooner than regular. Lengthy, slim and pale, these are candy and succulent. Attempt it indoors for the earliest crop or place an upturned bin over a crown outside, weighed down with a brick. Emma
Make this tipsy rhubarb & blood orange jelly for the proper Valentine’s Day dessert. Or attempt infusing your personal rhubarb gin.
Discover extra inspiration with our rhubarb recipes.
Purple sprouting broccoli
Purple sprouting broccoli has a brief season, so seize it when you can. Search for ones with recent, crisp leaves and deep purple florets – though, remember, the color will fade throughout cooking. Purple sprouting broccoli is a superb different to asparagus, so attempt it griddled and served with poached eggs, hollandaise sauce and toasted English muffins or sourdough.
This heat broccoli, feta & preserved lemon salad by contributing editor Diana Henry is an actual deal with; roasting the broccoli brings out a bit of sweetness which pairs brilliantly with the bitter yogurt and bitter lemon.
Discover extra concepts in our purple sprouting broccoli recipe assortment.
Brussels sprouts
Not only for Christmas, Brussels sprouts are round till early spring. If you happen to purchase them on the stalks, don’t overlook the highest leaves are edible too (simply cook dinner them like cabbage).
This tacky sprout fondue recipe will convert any sprout hater.
Get extra recipe inspiration in our Brussels sprouts assortment.
Turnips
Winter turnips have a stronger, peppery flavour in comparison with summer season’s child turnips. Attempt swapping among the potatoes in a hotpot, gratin or dauphinoise for turnips. They’ll make the dish a bit lighter and actually crank up the flavour.
We’re coming to the tip of the season, so benefit from them, served uncooked on this crispy salmon with turnip, mandarin & noodle salad.
Discover further concepts on this assortment of turnip recipes.
Swedes
Small swedes are sweeter, however peeling them is extra laborious than peeling a big one.
Attempt a drizzle of maple syrup to deliver out the sweetness on this comforting sausage traybake by recipe author Katy Gilhooly.
Discover extra concepts see our swede recipe assortment.
Primrose flowers
Edible flowers are a unbelievable and simple manner of adorning candy dishes like desserts and desserts. They will add a much-needed pop of color and infrequently a recent peppery style, relying on the flowers used. Attempt them in savoury dishes, too, like salads and open sandwiches corresponding to these smoked salmon tartines – it will make a extremely particular gentle lunch. Or, minimize the toast into bite-sized items and function canapés at your subsequent celebration.
Smoked salmon tartines
Toast 4 slices of rye or sourdough bread, then unfold with 100g crème fraîche. Flake 150g sizzling smoked salmon excessive and garnish with a couple of capers, 1 finely chopped pickled gherkin and a squeeze of lemon juice. Season, then scatter over ½ tsp chopped chives and 8-10 primrose flowers. Serves 4
Primroses (primula vulgaris) are robust crops that can survive drought, though they like moist situations. If you happen to’re planning on consuming the flowers, supply and develop natural ones to keep away from consuming any of the chemical compounds generally utilized by decorative flower growers. Emma
Backyard duties for February
- Sow seeds for most of the 12 months’s crops. That is the time to begin tomatoes you’re going to develop in a greenhouse, whereas Brussels sprouts, summer season cabbages, onions, peas and spinach will be sown beneath cowl now.
- Cage your crops to maintain them secure from hungry wooden pigeons. They’ll devastate cabbage and kale beds in chilly climate.
- Plant fruit bushes and bushes.
- Mulch beds with well-rotted compost or manure to arrange them for spring sowing and planting.
For extra seasonal gardening ideas, see Gardeners’ World. See our seasonal calendar for extra inspiration.
Try extra seasonal recipes
High 20 winter recipes
High 10 rhubarb recipes
High 10 winter soup recipes
The well being advantages of broccoli
Emma Crawforth is a professional horticulturist who skilled on the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, and is the gardening editor for BBC Gardeners’ World. Miriam Good is a broadcast writer and illustrator. She has written over 350 recipes for BBC Good Meals.
The February challenge of BBC Gardeners’ World Journal is on sale now.
