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Food

In season: what to cook and eat in January

by Abigail Spooner
In season: what to cook and eat in January
Image: Toby Scott

It’s a time of resolutions so why not start the year right by cooking seasonally? Winter root veg continues to bridge the gap before spring veggies come into their own and Seville oranges cheer up the grey days. Read on for our round-up of what to cook and eat this month…

Cauliflower

This endlessly versatile veg has surpassed its reputation as merely a side cloaked in cheese sauce and now comes in all shapes and sizes; as rice, steaks and even pizza bases. Treat cauliflower as you would a piece of meat with spices and marinades to boost its naturally mild flavour. Roasting it whole makes for an impressive centrepiece or blitz into a silky-smooth soup for a comforting lunch.

Image: Martin Poole
Image: Martin Poole

Try it

Paneer, pea and cauliflower curry

This veggie curry takes just 30 minutes from start to finish; perfect for a speedy midweek meal.

Seville orange

With a short season running until mid-February, now is the time to kick-start the preserving year and try your hand at marmalade making. This Spanish citrus fruit naturally contains lots of pectin in its thick, bitter-sweet rind, which gives marmalade its signature set. Look out for oranges with plump, firm skin for best results.

Image: Stuart West
Image: Stuart West

Try it

Rum and raisin marmalade

Take your breakfast toast to new heights with warmly spiced rum and raisins.

Celeriac

At its best in the winter months, this humble root veg has a celery-like, nutty flavour beneath its knobbly exterior. Try swapping the more traditional potato for celeriac in mash, gratins and stews. Its texture produces velvety soups and purées or try it raw and thinly sliced in slaws and remoulades. Whilst celeriac has a long shelf life, it hollows out with age so choose one that feels heavy for its size.

Image: Toby Scott
Image: Toby Scott

Try it

Whole roast celeriac with sage and walnut pesto

Put celeriac centre stage and roast it whole with a generous drizzle of nutty sage pesto.

Guinea Fowl

Once a game bird, guinea fowls are now domesticated, and their small size makes them a great roast option for two. Their flavour is similar to chicken but with a gamier tasting flesh and about half the amount of fat. As a result, ideally pair with bacon or Parma ham to prevent drying out.

Image: Martin Poole
Image: Martin Poole

Try it

Roast guinea fowl with prune and bacon stuffing

Stuff guinea fowl with smoked streaky bacon, rosemary and prunes for a flavourful Sunday lunch.

Swede

Part of the thrifty turnip family, swede has a distinctive, sweet tasting flesh and a slightly purple-green skin. Cook with swedes in much the same way as other root vegetables in comforting classics such as stews, mash and cheesy gratins. Known as ‘neeps’ in Scotland, celebrate Burns Night towards the end of the month with some haggis and a side of neeps and tatties.

Image: Maja Smend
Image: Maja Smend

Try it

Roasted root vegetable and barley broth

Pearl barley adds a lovely texture to this hearty broth showcasing British root veg.

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