The unsung hero of many a dish, we think our fantastic fresh herb range is well overdue a bit of love, and we are lucky enough to now have a good mix from Strawberry Fields and Kindling Market Garden in our range this week.
Pam grows these perennial herbs on her Lincolnshire Farm cutting them back hard in autumn to healthy new tender growth in spring. Last July a few of our veg team were tasked with weeding between the rows, an experience that made us all the more grateful for their appearance this Spring.
This week we have generous bunches of her thyme and oregano which are covered in beautiful edible flowers. Oregano is a herb that seems to intensify in flavour in the drying process, used fresh it’s milder aromatic flavours enliven any dish and is a great addition to smoky grilled aubergines.
Pam also grows tarragon with its light licorice taste lending itself really well to beans and mushrooms, it’s an ideal pairing with the smattering of the first UK broad beans expected later this week.
Alongside these we have the more unusual leafy green Lovage. Lovage is the hardy relative of celery and parsley and you can definitely taste that eating it raw. It’s slightly perfumed with a touch or citrus and a touch of anise and delicious in a soup, sauce or salad.
As ever, no cook can be doing without those staples of the kitchen parsley and coriander, with the bulk of this weeks supply coming from Kindling Market Garden in Stockport. The tunnel grown coriander in particular stands out this week, invitingly fragrant, it’s aroma has been turning the heads of staff and customers alike.
