What’s In Season – March
March kicked off with a bang this year with Pancake Day and St David’s Day falling on the same day. That meant lots of lovely pancakes and Welsh cakes were enjoyed and fun times were had. And the great food doesn’t stop there with Mother’s Day brunches and St Patrick’s Day soda bread not far away. Welcome to our monthly look at what produce is in season now.
What produce is in season in spring?
There is some fantastic fruit and veg in season now. Early spring is a fantastic time for fresh greens and tropical fruits. Spring greens, purple sprouting broccoli, cauliflower, bananas, spring onions, pak choi, passionfruit are all at their best right now. Check out our Spring Recipe Collection for more seasonal inspiration.
In-season cauliflower
One of the UK’s most-loved vegetables, the versatile and delicious cauliflower is at its best in the spring, so March is the perfect time to cook with it.
Curry Cauliflower Cheese
Ready in just 45 minutes, this creamy cauliflower cheese is elevated with a kick of curry flavour. An inspired take on a British favourite, it’s a perfect recipe to make the most of this in season vegetable.
Blistered ‘Coronation’ Cauliflower Salad with Scented Couscous and Pomegranate
There’s a lot to love about this original and inventive take on a contemporary British recipe. A tremendous mix of textures and tastes, this is a cauliflower recipe you’ll keep coming back to.
In-season purple sprouting broccoli
Having brought welcome cheer to our winter veg baskets, this tender-stemmed brassica is nearing the end of its peak season. Make the most of it while you can – try it steamed, with just a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil.
Roasted Purple Sprouting Broccoli with Ricotta
Creamy, zingy and easy to make, this roasted purple sprouting broccoli with baked ricotta is a delicious way to use the in-season vegetable. Ready in just a half an hour, it’s perfect for a tasty lunch or a light dinner.
In-season pak choi
A member of the cabbage family – and sometimes known as bok choi – pak choi grows well in the UK and is one of our earliest spring crops. It’s best cooked lightly so its crisp texture isn’t lost. Try halving the heads lengthways then steam them until just tender before dressing with oyster sauce and a scattering of toasted sesame seeds. Or, slice thickly, stir-fry quickly with shiitake mushrooms and finish with chilli oil and vinegar.
Quick Salmon with Pak Choi
Ready in just half an hour and using fewer than 10 ingredients, this one-pot salmon and noodles recipe really is simple and incredibly delicious. The vegetables, in-season pak choi and spring onions are easy to prepare while the bean sprouts add lots of crunch. Ideal as a special lunch and a delicious light nutritious supper when you’re short on time. If you have time, we recommend marinating the salmon 60 minutes before you cook it.
In-season passion fruit
Tart, tangy passion fruit are at their best when the skin is dark and wrinkled (but only the pulp and seeds are edible). They work well with rich, creamy flavours like white chocolate, cheesecake and yoghurt, or try making a passion fruit curd. They’re also the star ingredient in a Porn Star Martini cocktail. For a savoury spin, pair them with meat – pork, chicken and duck are all strong contenders for a sweet-spicy passion fruit glaze or sauce.
Banana Pancakes with Passion fruit Curd
March 1st was Pancake Day this year, so this recipe, using in-season passion fruit and bananas couldn’t be more topical, or tropical. Using slightly past-their-best bananas to add delicious sweetness to the pancake batter and topped with passion fruit, coconut flakes and yoghurt. Ready in just 20 minutes, this really is a flipping good recipe.
In-season bananas
We all know bananas are great for banana bread but what else can you do with them? Utilise their natural sweetness and fold mashed banana into pancake and waffle batter, or combine with garlic, allspice, turmeric, ginger and chilli to make banana ketchup – a spicy condiment that works with everything from roasted veg to fried chicken. For an easy pud, try caramelised bananas over ice cream with sesame seeds and a sprinkling of lime zest.
Vegan Chocolate Banana Muffins
Ready in just 40 minutes, these are vegan chocolate banana muffins with extra mmm. Created by the always-amazing Meera Sodha, they’re perfect for weekend breakfasts, brunches, elevenses and little snacks you have in the kitchen when you think nobody is watching.
Also, ideal for taking to work to treat (and impress) your colleagues.
Browse our March in-season produce on-site here.