April

What's in Season this April?

Featured this month:
Jersey Royals and
spring onions

With spring in the air and the weather getting warmer, now is the perfect time to enjoy home grown British produce. With many fruit and vegetables in season this spring,  take full advantage with some delicious recipes that the whole family will enjoy. Seasonal food is fresher so it tastes better - which is why we say embrace the spring!

This month’s featured vegetables are Jersey Royals and spring onions. We have some fantastic recipes which are centred around both of these delicious vegetables. Quick and easy to cook, simply select one of our recipes from the menu on the left hand side.

Lastly, take a little time to discover the story of the true food heroes: the British farmers who provide us with their delicious fruit and vegetables for your table throughout the spring.

See what else is in season just now >

Check out our interactive seasonal wheel >

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Jersey Royals

Jose Martins, Jersey Royal Company Ltd

“Our business is owned and run by three families of Jersey farmers and we are now the sole supplier of Jersey Royals to The Co-operative Group.

Like most farmers, we’re at the mercy of the weather and we need a balance between needing to have both enough sunshine and rain in order for us to meet our demand.

As demand is always very strong, it’s always good seeing a good crop come to maturity and head off to the customers."

Jose Martins, Jersey Royal Company Ltd
The best way to eat them
These fresh new potatoes are grown exclusively on Jersey and benefit from the local climate and carefully nurtured soil.
With a delicate flesh and distinctive flavour, Jersey Royals are the perfect summer spud. Traditionally, Jersey Royals are delicious when steamed and served with butter and herbs - or for a unique twist try them with fried bacon, parmesan shavings and chopped olives.
With the weather getting warmer and the time for BBQs just around the corner - why not make a tasty barbecue salad? Steam the potatoes until tender, toss in some olive oil and skewer them, then simply barbecue until crisp.
 
My top tip
My top tip for cooking Jersey Royals is simple. At the start of spring, look for potatoes that are smaller and more tender. If the skins are unwashed, this is a good sign as it will mean the potato will be packed with flavour. I'm a traditionalist and enjoy my Jersey Royals steamed or boiled. This usually takes 15 to 20 minutes. They're simply delicious when served with butter and fresh herbs.

Spring onions

Peter Billie, Evesham Vale Growers

"Our farm in Worcestershire is still very much a family run business and we’ve been supplying The Co-operative for over 35 years.

British spring onions are so much fresher and juicier than imported ones. You can’t beat them in a good old-fashioned ploughman’s lunch!

But they also become very sweet and caramelised when cooked so are great for the likes of stir fries. When the sun shines, spring onions sell faster than anything else!"


Peter Billie, Evesham Vale Growers
The best way to eat them
When cooking spring onions, both the long, slender green tops and the small white bulb are edible. These can be eaten either raw or cooked.
If you decide to eat them raw, they add both heat and crispness to a salad. When cooked, they are fabulous in a stir fry with chillies, ginger and garlic.
In the warmer weather, spring onions can also be grilled or barbecued. Simply place them on the grill for ten minutes until the bulbs turn black and the stems soften.
For a heartier dish chop your spring onions, cook and fold them into creamy mashed potatoes for a fabulous Irish champ.
My top tip
The best spring onions to buy are the smallest and thinnest ones you can find as this will indicate that the onion is young and will be at its tastiest. The best thing about spring onions is that they can be cooked quickly which is why I love adding them to stir fries and salads.
 

Also look out for these products that are in season and in store

  • radish
  • rhubarb
  • leek
  • radish
  • rhubarb
  • leek
  • leek

The arrival of spring sees a whole host of fantastic fruit and vegetables come into their own.

Ranging from spicy radishes to tasty rhubarb, there is something for everybody in the family to enjoy.

Want to find the keys behind many of your favourite spring dishes?

Simply click on an image opposite to find out more.

Juicy, crunchy and crisp, radishes add some vibrant colour and fiery flavour to your spring dishes.

Radishes are fantastic in salads, especially when served with butter and sea salt. Radishes can be eaten raw, braised, roasted, sautéed or stir fried.

Clean, crisp, mild and refreshing, cucumber is usually served raw. However, once the seeds are removed, it’s also good cooked.

It's a great addition to stir-fries or roasts, in particular when sautéed with mint to accompany roast lamb. For a more comforting dish, pair cucumber with bacon or ham and onion to make a great soup that can be served hot or cold.

To enjoy the warmer weather, why not blend your cucumbers and serve as a dip with juicy homemade lamb burgers? Cucumber can also be surprisingly good in desserts too - try adding it to a sorbet of lime and mint.

With a mildly sweet, almost nutty flavour, crisp and fresh flavored cauliflower is a versatile seasonal favourite.

Excellent when lightly steamed, roasted or stir-fried, its receptiveness to spicier flavours like cumin, turmeric, chilli and ginger renders it invaluable in many Indian dishes.

For a delicious thick and creamy soup, puree cooked cauliflower with vegetable stock and milk and stir in handfuls of your favourite blue cheese.

Tender spinach leaves add freshness to summer cooking.

The best way to cook your spinach is to use quick cooking methods to retain maximum freshness and flavour. For a fuller flavour try adding a few toasted pine nuts and a sprinkling of raisins at the last minute to curries, risottos and creamy pasta dishes. Versatile and tasty, spinach combines well with other ingredients such as cream, cheese and eggs.

Spring greens are a truly fantastic vegetable that can be used in a wide array of dishes.

Sweet and crunchy without the hard core found in the centre of other cabbages, the young bright green leaves are ideal for steaming, stir-frying or adding to soups and vegetable bakes.

Spring greens are perfect as an accompaniment - and easy to prepare. Just toss the cooked leaves in some black pepper and butter and serve with a steaming hearty stew.

Spring greens are also fantastic when cooked with onions and garlic then finished with cream or tossed with buttery fried bacon or pancetta

These delicious and nutritious leaves add a peppery edge to green salads and are brimming with vitamins and minerals.

Not many people know this but adding a handful of watercress to any salad or stir-fry gives the whole flavour of the dish a lift. Alternatively, blitz your watercress into a soup, or stir through pasta for some added bite.

The delicate and slender shockingly pink stems of rhubarb are a welcome sight at the start of the year, bringing a sharp yet refreshingly clean tasting flavour to cleanse and invigorate.

The perfect accompaniments to sweet recipes, roast whole rhubarb with honey and serve with ice cream or alongside a delicious sticky ginger cake. Rhubarb’s sharpness works extremely well with rich meat and oily fish dishes.

Try serving your rhubarb alongside roast pork or grilled mackerel.

 
 

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