With May just around the corner, we’ve an array of exciting new UK and European produce to inspire you in the kitchen this week. Our first pallet from Pam Bowers at Strawberry Fields is arriving on Thursday: expect beautiful batavia and oakleaf lettuces, little gems and generously sized spring greens. We’ll also be receiving a variety of fresh herbs including lovage, thyme, and tarragon. Lovage isn’t a herb you’ll readily find in most shops, but its muted notes of celery and parsley marry perfectly with Mediterranean dishes and flavours. Use in place of basil for a refreshing take on a classic pesto, or chop roughly and add generously to a leafy salad. The first UK tomatoes from the Isle of Wight have also arrived. The cherry vines and mini plums are already super sweet and delicious, and we’ve the first few boxes of large vines due in which will be in limited quantities to start. From Europe, the first of the new season Hokkaido pumpkins from Agricoop in Siciliy arrived last week, and are tasting as delightful as they look. The skins are not yet fully cured so they’re tender enough to eat, but we do recommend keeping them in the fridge. French broad beans are also particularly flavoursome at the minute, exhibiting a subtly sweet, nutty flavour. Further north and the Dutch glass house is now in full swing: as well as aubergines we have cucumbers, peppers, radish and pak choi.
And on a final note, you may have already noticed the return of nectarines, which means that peaches, apricots and melons won’t be far behind… Watch this space!
