September is the best month for British produce (in my opinion) with a wide, bountiful range of fruits and vegetables at their finest and a crossover of seasons that brings the best of both late summer and early autumn to our tables.
With so many great ingredients to pick from it’s hard to choose just a few, but here are a handful of my top picks for September!
Damsons – as damsons begin to fully ripen this month, their sweet yet astringent flavours are bought to life. Perfect for desserts and jam its time to crack out the weighing scales and get creative!
Brassicas (broccoli, cauliflower and sprouts) – okay, so perhaps picking a sub category is cheating a little but I just couldn’t choose! Brassicas are some of my favourite autumn veggies and are all perfect side dish materials. Why not try sprouts, thinly sliced, roasted/shallow fried and topped with a little lime juice as an alternative to your usual roast dinner side.
Sloe – it is around this time of year that the wild blackthorn trees are aching with fruit and with gin all the rage at the moment I see sloe berries being hugely popular this autumn. Use them in a jam or you could even give making your own Sloe gin a stab! Don’t worry, you won’t have to pick your own, it’s just more fun that way!
Truffle – being one of my favourite ingredients to ‘posh up’ any dish I am always delighted when truffle comes into season. The first pairing that comes to mind is truffle and mushrooms, which is always a winner. Try pushing the boat out a little with a Parmesan and truffle baked soufflé or by balancing it with delicate white fish.
Other ingredients to try this month…
• Wild Duck
• Pumpkin
• Beetroot
• Courgette
Love cooking? Read more from Ellie’s Kitchen here.