Market report

Hot from the market floor, this week's food news:

Fresh

The flavour and juiciness of Sicilian blood oranges, just has to be experienced to be believed. The South African plum season is progressing well, with the arrival of the first Sunkiss yellow plums of the season.  They look good, taste pleasant, and should ripen nicely by Monday.

There's a good choice of exotic and tropical fruits in the market right now. Tangelos, or ugli fruits, are in good supply also. Their sweet orange and grapefruit taste makes them perfect for breakfast, starters, salads and desserts. English forced rhubarb is now plentiful. The pale, tender stems are deliciously fruity and have a much more delicate taste than the outdoor crop. 

New in from Lancashire: sweet, delicious Red brussels tops. They have beautiful deep purple outer leaves and pale beautifully veined mini hearts.

Italian Spring rape is the vegetable version of the golden fields that cover Britain in late April. The bright green leaves and florets are all edible and should be treated much like purple sprouting broccoli (which is also on top form right now). They have a slightly bitter, mustard-edged taste and are splendid steamed, or wilted in garlic-laced olive or rapeseed oil. Portuguese hispe remain a tasty choice and tundra, savoy and soon-to-end January Kings are excellent home grown options. Curly kale and cavalo nero are worth a spot on the menu, too.
 
Our English parsnips are even sweeter now they've had a few doses of cold weather. Donkey Carrots have developed a really rich, herby taste and are one of the few lines that are really good value this winter. Potatoes are also good buys, whether you choose our washed whites, sante bakers or slightly more unusual harlequins. They are close relatives of the Pink Fir Apple, have a similar taste and texture, but are easier to peel.

Source: 4°C
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www.4degreesc.com