Remember, remember, the 5th of November. . . Well, do you? It was a few days ago now, but hopefully you had a pleasant and cosy evening, whether you were out watching the fireworks or in watching a film. There’s something about November that feels very special (if not a little cold!). And with winter gathering, now’s the time for some hearty and warming eating.
So, as always, we’ve rounded up some of the finest seasonal food in November, especially for your culinary pleasure. Enjoy!
Swede
Swede is so lovely, so hardy, so versatile, and so (in our experience, at least) underrated. Often overlooked on the fruit and veg aisle, this wonderful root vegetable is amazingly tasty and surprisingly versatile (did you know that it’s actually a key ingredient of the famous Cornish pasty?).
Recipe ideas: swede mash, swede gratin, honey-roasted swede with chilli and cumin.
Beetroot
Beetroot is incredibly easy to get hold of all-year round, and most of us are probably most familiar with the pre-cooked, vacuum-packed variety. But the fresh stuff shouldn’t be overlooked. Beetroot is incredibly healthy (and it’s got a lovely colour, too), so we’ll take any excuse to eat it, in any form. . .
Recipe ideas: beetroot curry, beetroot risotto with feta, borscht.
Parsnips
Boil ‘em, mash ‘em, stick ‘em in a stew. Parsnips are the oh-so-sweet root veg that look, smell, and taste like winter. Roasted with a bit of honey and mustard, they’re the secret star of many people’s Christmas dinner. An all-round winner in our books, and a great addition to your November seasonal food line up.
Recipe ideas: gluten-free parsnip fruit and nut cake, parsnip soup, honey roasted parsnips.
Quince
“Quince” is not a word you hear often. Or an item of food you see often. But it’s an old and interesting fruit, and it’s currently in season. It’s never really recommended to eat a raw quince, which is why you’ll always see them in recipes that involve some sort of cooking process. But they can bring a lovely colour, flavour, and personality to a dish, so they’re well worth considering!
Recipe ideas: gluten free apple pie with spiced poached quince, quince jelly.
Eating seasonal
For more information on seasonal eating, you can take a look at these fantastic resources: Eat The Seasons (a wonderfully simple website with week-to-week updates on what’s in season in the uk), and Eat Seasonably (another simple and informative resource, featuring a brilliant seasonal food wheel).
Photo by Eva Bronzini.