We are well and truly into the back end of the year and the ingredients coming into season reflect the change in weather coming up.
October is a month that brings us root veg and rich game perfect for hearty meals to warm up the nights.
It’s this month that the colour pallet of what’s on offer mirrors the change in colours outside. From greens and pinks to oranges and browns October is when Autumnal food really comes into play.
Here are Ellie’s recommendations on what you should cook with this month…
Heritage Carrots – For those who don’t know, heritage carrots are the pretty looking carrots you get in fancy restaurants. They are sweeter, more colourful and full of nobly bobble bits that you just don’t get from standard supermarket varieties. Take advantage of the gorgeous offerings and use them in dishes that really make carrots the hero.
Pumpkins – Alright, so I just had to include pumpkins in this month. While they are a very obvious pick for the spooky month of October pumpkins really are at their very best right now. While I am a fan of a super carved pumpkin I do wince at the Halloween themed supermarket displays that continuously ignore the humble pumpkin for what it really is… food. So perhaps this year buy a couple, one to carve and one to eat!
Wild Mushrooms – Last month we saw truffle come into season and this month it’s the truffle’s best friend’s turn, wild mushrooms! Girolles, Chanterelles and the striking Trompettes De La Mort are some of the most readily available to try. While these can often come with a hefty price tag and aren’t the ‘prettiest’ of mushrooms, the flavour is incredible. For a filling tea try wild mushroom risotto, it’s sure to be a winner!
Game Birds– The beginning of October sees the final game birds become available, including pheasant and woodcock. Woodcock can be difficult to get hold of but is worth hunting down if you like gamey meat. A very small bird, which can be eaten guts-and-all, what the woodcock lacks in size it certainly makes up for in flavour. Not to everyone’s taste but something different to pop in your pies!
Other ingredients to try this month include…
• Mussels
• Salsify
• Blackberries
• Figs
• Globe Artichokes
What’s your favourite ingredient to cook with at this time of year? Let us know over on Facebook and Twitter.
Image taken from Recipe Geek.