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What we're cooking in April

Make the most of seasonal cooking by buying ingredients that are in season here in the UK during April

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cook with the seasons

With the majority of the UK’s population living in urban areas, most people may have lost touch with what fruit and veg is in season, since we mostly buy from supermarkets, whose shelves typically stock most produce all year around. However, if you start shopping seasonally you'll reap many benefits.

April is a tricky time for farmers, since it's getting too late for hardy root vegetables that thrive in winter and a little too early for more fragile spring fruits and vegetables. All is not lost though, as there are still plenty of delicious produce to get your teeth stuck into. We've rounded up our favourite April fruit and veg recipes to give you a helping hand in kickstarting your seasonal cooking venture.

What's in season in April?

Asparagus - Towards the end of the month, you'll start to see asparagus coming into season. Asparagus is considered a delicacy (with a price tag to match!), due to the fact that it's labour intensive to grow. It comes in the colours green, white and purple, with the most common variety in the UK being green. Delicious when roasted, steamed or grilled, while our favourite way to serve them is pan-fried in some olive oil with lemon juice and chilli flakes. Read our expert advice for everything asparagus related.

Chicory - Our Cookery Director, Meike Beck, is a huge fan of chicory; 'Whether you opt for the whitish green variety or the burgundy-tinged sort, look for firm, tightly packed leaves. To serve, trim the root and separate or shred the leaves raw into salads (wonderful with oranges and oily fish) or halve and griddle, barbecue or braise. Once bought, store in darkness to avoid ramping-up the bitterness!'.

Kale - A leafy brassica with an earthy taste, kale definitely benefits from being cooked or massaged with an acidic dressing to soften it slightly. Be sure to remove leaves from the tough stalk (which can be discarded) before cooking/massaging.

Morels - These funny looking fungi are a type of wild mushroom with an earthy, nutty flavour. Be sure to buy any wild mushrooms from a grocer or farmer’s market, or if sourcing your own be sure to pick them with an experienced forager. Find top tips for cooking mushrooms here.

New potatoes - These baby-like potatoes have a thin skin, meaning you don't have try and peel them (which would be incredibly fiddly!). Wash any dirt off them and then they're good to boil, roast or sauté in butter and herbs (once they've been par boiled). Mint is a herb that works particularly well with the sweeter flavoured spud to create the perfect spring side dish.

Radishes - These vibrant veggies come in all sorts of shapes and sizes. Ranging from the French breakfast (the small, oblong, pink ones) all the way to the magnificent watermelon radish (if you haven't already googled one then it's your lucky day!). Delicious raw in salads or roasted in a traybake, these colourful root vegetables impart a spicy and zesty flavour.

Rhubarb - Enter rhubarb season! Forced rhubarb (grown differently to rhubarb) season runs from December through to March, but this is the time for rhubarb grown outside in natural light. This tart fruit is delicious stewed down with plenty of sugar and then added as the base to a crumble, or simply served on top of yoghurt to bring a splash of colour to the breakfast table. Rhubarb freezes well too, so even when out of season, you can enjoy that bright pink goodness.

Rocket - This peppery salad is characterised by its long, wavy leaves and thin stem. Best served with a sweeter dressing (like a balsamic-based one), rocket has been enjoyed in the UK since Elizabethan times and still remains just as popular now.

Spinach - This leafy green is high in iron and is popular in almost every country around the world. Younger and more tender spinach leaves can be eaten raw in salads whereas older, larger spinach that has tougher leaves and stalks need to be wilted down. Either steam it or sauté with butter/oil for an easy side dish.

Spring greens - This loose term refers to younger cabbage plants with tender leaves and softer stalks that can be cooked down easily. Spring greens are slightly sweeter than other cabbage leaves and have a more delicate flavour, making them the perfect addition to any spring dishes.

Watercress - With its distinct, deep green and delicate petal-like leaves and crunchy, woody stalk, this salad leaf is related to mustard. Its peppery flavour certainly packs a punch, so make sure you like its flavour before liberally adding it to soups and sauces.

1

Kale and chorizo risotto

chorizo and kale risotto april recipe

Just a few ingredients make this fab chorizo and kale risotto.

Recipe: Chorizo and kale risotto

2

Fruity chicory salad

spring recipes

Sweet, citrussy, bitter and crunchy, this simple chicory side dish has it all, plus it can be ready in just 15min.

Recipe: Fruity chicory salad

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3

New potato skewers with satay sauce

best bbq sides

These tasty new potato skewers are lathered in a delicious satay sauce, which can be made in a flash and is sure to be a real crowd-pleaser.

Recipe: New potato skewers with satay sauce

4

Crunchy crab cakes with pickled veg

crunchy crab cakes with pickled veg april recipe

These crab cakes are served with an array of veg, including your choice of radishes. Crab is also in season in April, making this the perfect dish to whip up this month.

Recipe: Crunchy crab cakes with pickled veg

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5

Very green spring soup

spring recipes

This soup includes spring greens and courgettes, giving it that wonderfully vibrant green colour. We’ve garnished with fried rice for texture, but you could crumble in some goat’s cheese for a protein hit.


Recipe: Very green spring soup

6

Kale, sausage and bean one-pot

november recipes

Using one pan for this dish saves on washing up, plus all the delicious meaty juices from frying the sausages help flavour the broth in this hearty stew. The addition of plenty of kale makes it light and fresh too.

Recipe: Sausage, bean and kale one-pot

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7

Pickled rhubarb with spelt flatbreads

spring recipes

The addition of beautifully pink rhubarb makes this easy dinner recipe awash with colour. Swap the chicken for quartered 6-min boiled eggs, if you like and, if you can get hold of it, use wild garlic in your herby oil instead of the soft herbs.

Recipe: Spelt flatbreads with pickled rhubarb

8

Crushed Jersey Royals, roasted radish and cod traybake

best radish recipes

Including both new potatoes and radishes, this dish couldn't be more seasonal. Let the oven do the work with this fresh and seasonal traybake. To speed up the cooking time, you could cook your potatoes in a pan of salted boiling salted until just tender before roasting.

Recipe: Crushed Jersey Royals, roasted radish and cod traybake

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9

Asparagus orzotto with watercress pesto

asparagus orzotto with watercress pesto

With both asparagus and watercress featured in this dish, it's a wonderfully seasonal option. The pine nuts add creaminess to the pesto, but you could use blanched almonds or hazelnuts instead, if preferred.

Recipe: Asparagus orzotto with watercress pesto

10

New potatoes with pistachio pesto

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Watercress is at its best right now and, combined with fragrant tarragon and toasted pistachios, makes a fresh, peppery sauce for these super seasonal Jersey Royals.

Recipe: Pistachio pesto new potatoes

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11

Rhubarb and Rose Cupcakes

best easter cakes

Making the most of seasonal rhubarb, these pretty cupcakes look as delicious as they taste. The rhubarb spirals are completely optional, but make a wonderful finishing touch to the cakes.

Recipe: Rhubarb and Rose Cupcakes

12

Rocket pesto with grilled fish

grilled fish with rocket pesto april recipe

Fresh and tasty homemade watercress pesto brings peppery flavour to this easy and vibrant fish dish that's ready in just 20 minutes.

Recipe: Grilled fish with rocket pesto

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13

Rhubarb galette

rhubarb galette april recipe

Seize rhubarb season as soon as it begins with this 'pretty in pink' galette. No need to line a tin – the beauty of making a free-form tart is that it is meant to look rustic and relaxed.

Recipe: Rhubarb galette

14

Asparagus, prawn and rocket pappardelle

summer recipes

Asparagus and rocket are the seasonal stars in this simple but delicious speedy pasta dish. The egg yolks and Parmesan add a touch of richness as well.

Recipe: Prawn, asparagus and rocket pappardelle

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15

Watercress and ricotta lasagne

best lasagne recipes

This is a very quick version of lasagne that doesn’t require too much cooking. Using watercress instead of beef mince, this is seasonal cooking at its finest. Top tip: be sure to use fresh lasagne sheets rather than dried.

Recipe: Watercress and ricotta lasagne

16

Rhubarb Frangipane Tart

rhubarb frangipane tart

Dainty pink stems of rhubarb nestled in a sweet frangipane – the prettiest dessert to end any April celebration meal.

Recipe: Rhubarb Frangipane Tart

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17

Kale polpette with watercress pesto

autumn recipes

Polpette may mean meatballs in Italian, but these are packed with kale, watercress and lentils instead. A delicious vegetarian alternative, we think.

Recipe: Kale polpette with watercress pesto

18

Spinach and feta filo pie

spinach and feta filo pie

A filling of spinach, feta, potato and cumin, all wrapped in crisp filo pastry, makes a wonderfully seasonal and wholesome pie. It's a real crowd-pleaser at picnics!

Recipe: Spinach and feta filo pie

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19

Spring minestrone with mint pesto

spring recipes

In the UK, we're most familiar with minestrone in its wintry form but in Italy, minestrone is made with whatever vegetables are in season. This spring version is packed with spring greens that go wonderfully with mint. New potatoes give the soup body, but you could use leftover cooked rice or small pasta shapes, if you prefer. Plus, it only takes 20min to prep, which is always a bonus.

Recipe: Spring minestrone with mint pesto

20

Spring greens and chicken casserole

casserole recipes spring chicken casserole recipe april recipe

This bright green chicken dish is fresh and nourishing, packed full of spring greens and peas and all the flavours of spring! This is as seasonal as it comes.

Recipe: Spring chicken casserole

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