There are many arguments for using seasonal ingredients in your cooking, not just in January, but all year round. Buying from local producers is good for the economy, and seasonal food is better for us too. It’s more nutritious, treated with less additives, and often cheaper. Knowing what to make with seasonal ingredients can be tricky, though, especially if you’re not a natural cook. We’ve come up with ideas for delicious meals you can make with ingredients in season this January.
Winter root vegetable mash
Parsnips and swedes are a January seasonal staple. This side dish goes beautifully with a traditional Sunday roast, or can be an low-carb alternative mash to accompany a weekday bangers and mash supper. All you need to do to make it is boil your parsnips and swede until they’re cooked, then mash them together. Add sour cream to make your mash creamy, plus a little horseradish (which is also in season in January) and some fresh thyme for flavour. Our mouths are watering just thinking about it.
Read more: Why it’s better for you and your wallet to eat in season
Beetroot and beef curry
Beetroots are another winter seasonal ingredient you shouldn’t miss out on. Their vibrant purple colour makes any dish exciting, whether it’s a soup or a hummus. But what about a curry? Us Brits are renowned as curry lovers, so why not combine a national favourite with a bit of extra nutrition? This recipe involves using beetroot both blended into the curry paste, and in larger chunks to pad out the curry itself. As it takes a while to cook, it’s a good one to make at the weekend and re-heat for a weekday dinner. Get the full recipe on BBC Good Food.
Fish pie
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Fish like cod and haddock are also abundant during the winter months, and can be locally sourced sustainably. A great way to mix them together with some other seasonal ingredients is to make a fish pie.
Cut your fish up into chunks, and gently cook it in a cheese sauce made from a tub of soft cheese (any flavour you like, but we love garlic and herbs) and a little cornflour to thicken it. Lay your fish mixture in a baking dish, and top with mashed potato, or why not try the winter veg mash we talked about earlier? Bake your pie in the oven for 25-30 minutes until it’s piping hot and your mash is golden and crispy, then serve up with some other delicious veggies.
Duck breast with creamed cabbage, chestnuts and caramelised pear
This restaurant-worthy dish combines two of January’s seasonal ingredients – duck and pears. Rich, flavourful duck is the perfect partner for fruit. The fattiness of the meat is offset by the sharp acidity of the fruit, leaving you with a taste sensation the professionals aspire to. This recipe by Gordon Ramsay combines pan-fried duck breast with celeriac and savoy cabbage prepared with bacon and double cream, and a beautiful caramelised pear. Anything with bacon and double cream is approved by us! Get the full recipe for this impressive dish here.
Apples and pears
It isn’t winter without apple desserts served up with lashings of custard. We can’t choose between pie, crumble or sponge as our dessert of choice, but you could use this filling with any option and it’d be delicious!
Peel, core and chop apples and pears into pieces. Stew them in a large saucepan with lemon juice, a squeeze of agave syrup, some cinnamon or mixed spices, and 200ml water. Pop the lid on for 5-10 minutes until the fruit is softening. If you like your filling chunky, you can use a slotted spoon to remove some of your fruit from the pan and pop it to one side. Otherwise, use a potato masher to puree the fruit. Mix your chunky bits back in if you’ve saved them, and you’re ready to turn the filling into whatever dessert you desire!
What are your favourite winter foods? Do you use seasonal ingredients?
