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Fresh Food Club - What's in season?



"ideas on the freshest produce this season coupled with gourmet recipes for the freshest produce in town

What's fresh?

Fennel

Delicious served cooked or raw, fennel teams deliciously with cheese, tomato, orange, ham, lemon, seafood, garlic, chicken stock, pasta, Pernod, cream, olive oil or lamb. Try pan-frying slices of baby fennel in oil and garlic until tender. Toss cooked fennel through cooked spaghetti with chopped fronds and toasted pine nuts with grape tomatoes

Why not try...

+ Fennel
+ Fennel, Chilli, Garlic & Pumpkin Pasta
+ Slow roasted chicken and fennel

Chilli

Warm-up your winter cooking with feisty chillies. Freshly harvested from Bundaberg and Bowen, chillies are plentiful. The mild long red chillies are ideal for adding a gentle kick or if you want to spice it up try the green Jalapeño variety.

Why not try...

+ Chilli
+ Sweet Potato and Lentil Burgers
+ Fennel, Chilli, Garlic & Pumpkin Pasta

Broccoli

Broccoli supplies are coming from NSW, Victoria and Queensland, and most of the growing areas are experiencing extra cold overnight temperatures, this slows up the growing time and turns broccoli heads purple. Prices are up this week are supplies are reduced.

Why not try...

+ Broccoli
+ Broccoli and potato soup
+ Broccoli and potato soup

Pumpkin

Pumpkin is an inexpensive vegetable that is versatile and nutritious. Toss together, steam diced pumpkin, with baby spinach leaves with a sesame oil and mirin, soy and lemon dressing or whip up a pot of creamy pumpkin soup. Choose from Jap and grey skinned Jarrahdale pumpkins.

Why not try...

+ Pumpkin
+ Grilled chicken with rosemary, pinenut and parmesan crust
+ Fennel, Chilli, Garlic & Pumpkin Pasta

Leeks

Chilly days call for bowls or mugs of soul warming soups, rich in flavour and high in nutritional value. When caramelized, leeks add a delightful sweetness and depth of flavour. Leeks teams superbly with cauliflower, celeriac, carrots, pumpkin, sweet potato and tomato.

Why not try...

+ Leeks
+ Easy baked fish in parcels
+ Leek Miso Soup

Brussels sprouts

Premium quality Brussels sprouts are a top buy. Select Brussels sprouts that are a similar size to ensure that all Brussels sprouts cook in the same amount of time.

Why not try...

+ Brussels sprouts
+ Chicken and sesame buddha bowl
+ Roast Chicken with Carrots and Brussels Sprouts

Kumera

Orange fleshed sweet potato, also known as kumara good value. Delicious mashed, diced and roasted or baked in peeled chunks kumara has a pleasant sweet flavour

Why not try...

+ Kumera
+ Sweet Potato and Lentil Burgers
+ Shepherds Pie

Beetroot

With their rich purple-red colour and delicate, almost sweet flavour, beetroot provide stunning colour for winter meals. Beetroot are in heaviest supply from May to November. With their rich purple-red colour and delicate, almost sweet flavour, beetroot provide stunning colour for winter meals.

Why not try...

+ Beetroot
+ Grilled Spatchcock with a salad of beetroot, orange, watercress & baby herbs
+ Berry and beetroot (beet) ice-cream/sorbet

Herbs

Winter is the ideal time to make the most of fresh herbs. Enjoy sage with fish, pork, duck, cheese, breads, potato, pumpkin, peas, leeks, veal, chicken and mushroom. Thyme is enjoyable teamed with chicken, stock, lemons, parsnip, potatoes, zucchini, squash and sausages

Why not try...

+ Herbs
+ Easy Roasted Chestnut, Pumpkin and Ricotta Salad
+ Easy roasted chestnut, pumpkin and ricotta salad

Kale

Economical and healthy leafy kale is a popular choice. Use raw in salads or juices or add to a frittata which is delicious served hot or cold.

Why not try...

+ Kale
+ Grilled chicken with rosemary, pinenut and parmesan crust
+ Kohlrabi and kale slaw

Swiss chard

Vibrant rainbow chard also known as Swiss Chard is now in season. Similar to siverbeet, this leafy green veggie is a show stopper with its vibrant coloured stems. Sold in bunches the stems can vary in shades of yellow, orange or pink. Use leaves and stems separately or in combination. Add to soups, stir-fries, and lentil, rice and couscous dishes.

Why not try...

+ Swiss chard
+ Swiss chard and celeriac with grilled eye fillet

Carrots

Purchasing carrots in a kilo bag is thrifty and convenient. Carrots add a lovely sweetness to soups, casseroles, try them pureed or mashed, roasted or steamed

Why not try...

+ Carrots
+ Chinese cauliflower fried rice
+ Vegetarian Spring Rolls

Asian Greens

Stir-fries are packed with fresh produce and fast to cook, making them are the ideal meal for busy people. For a quick and easy meal; toss a medley of Asian leafy greens such as bok choy and choy sum with marinated beef or chicken.

Why not try...

+ Asian Greens
+ Maple and miso salmon with stir-fried Asian greens
+ Thai Chicken Broth

Parsnips

Parsnips are delicious roasted and add a unique sweetness to soups and casseroles or try cooking in milk and pureeing with a dollop of cream, season and serve with steak, chicken or fish.

Why not try...

+ Parsnips
+ Chilli Garlic Spatchcock with Garlic & Lime Vegetable Salad
+ Honey Roasted Rack of Lamb

Rhubarb

Ruby red rhubarb has a distinct tangy flavour that teams superbly with apples, nashi, pears, cinnamon, lemon rind, ginger or cream to make warming winter desserts.

Why not try...

+ Rhubarb
+ Buckwheat Pancakes with Strawberries, Rhubarb, Yoghurt and Ginger
+ Free Form Rhubarb and Apple Pie

Banana

Creamy and delicious Cavendish bananas are nourishing and satisfying. Serve banana smoothies to kids as an after school refreshing energy-packed drink, add banana slices to you’re a bowl of your favourite breakfast cereal, or top a toasted English muffin with fresh ricotta banana slices and a drizzle of honey.

Why not try...

+ Banana
+ Wholemeal Pancakes
+ Banana, Spinach, Mango, Coconut Water Smoothie

Avocado

Hass avocados have a butter-like texture and rich nutty flavour. Winter is the peak time, to make the most of avocados as the quality and price.

Why not try...

+ Avocado
+ Mango salad with seeds and quinoa
+ Chicken and sesame buddha bowl

Oranges

It is a top year for sweet, juicy Navel oranges.

Why not try...

+ Oranges
+ Grilled Spatchcock with a salad of beetroot, orange, watercress & baby herbs
+ Fresh fig, orange and walnut cheesecake

Kiwifruit

Scoop up a kiwifruit and enjoy this fabulous source of vitamin C. Purchase firm kiwifruit and allow to ripen at room temperature until slightly soft.

Why not try...

+ Kiwifruit
+ Banana and kiwi muffins
+ Green super smoothie

Limes

Traditionally limes are not plentiful in winter and tend to be more expensive than lemons. However, due to an extra mild autumn we are now seeing a good supply of limes harvested in Queensland. That’s great news for shoppers as both lemons and limes are now great value.

Why not try...

+ Limes
+ Chilli Con Pavo
+ Salmon with horseradish crust and green beans

Grapes

Flavoursome with a firm crunchy texture, Crimson seedless grapes delicious sweet.

Why not try...

+ Grapes
+ Grape and caper salad
+ Blueberry and grape muffins

Mandarin

Select glossy Imperial mandarins that feel heavy for its size as this indicates good juice content. In peak season from April to July, Imperial mandarins are virtually seedless and are very easy to peel

Why not try...

+ Mandarin