Hannah digs into the in season basket and comes up with her favourite things to eat in May
While flicking through the TV channels a few weeks back I happened across Valentine Warner’s show ‘What to eat now’. Obviously the seasons weren’t in sync with ours but he prepared this gorgeous dish with pork chops and I haven’t been able to stop dreaming about it.
He simply dusts seasoned flour onto fat pork chops and fries them in hot olive oil until golden and tender, then they are removed from the pan, while he adds half a dozen anchovy fillets with a knob of butter, crushed garlic, capers and the juice of half a lemon to the same pan.
He gently fries all of these wonderful ingredients together until the anchovies melt and then he liberally pours the pan juices over the hot chops – heaven!
This is what inspired me to share with you what I love to eat during the month of May.
A note, in season produce is much fresher and nutritious as it spends less time in storage. So make the most of it while you can!
Sage is one of my most favourite winter herbs and since I have pork on the mind, I'm all set to make slow-roasted pork belly with apples and cider this coming weekend.
Anyone who knows me, knows that I have a complete love affair with all things Mexican, especially if the dish is paired with avocado.
Every Woolworths fridge shelf in sight is now heavy with perfectly ripe and seasonal, creamy avocadoes, so grab them and make the most of their sensational health properties (think .
Read up to find what the difference is between the various avocado varieties.
My favourite Mexican comfort meal using avocado is Mexican spiced chicken with tortilla pasta and avocado. The avocado is added right at the end and just warmed through. It's a wonderful combination of tastes and textures and the perfect meal-in-a-bowl. Serve with lots of fresh lemon and coriander.
Guavas are also making their way into season.Just this weekend we passed a tree boasting baby green bulbs of guavas. I’m eagerly awaiting the weeks to come when we can pluck them from the branches.
Our recipe for star anise-poached guavas takes me right back to my childhood. My mom always used to make poached guavas so there was always a dish full of them in the fridge.
The best way to eat them is with Woolworth’s vanilla custard or thick plain yoghurt and homemade granola.
I hope you too are seduced by the season’s bounty and take full advantage of the abundance of fresh fruit and vegetables while they are at their prime.
WHAT'S IN SEASON IN MAY IN SOUTH AFRICA (links will take you to our In Season page or other of our informative article pages where you can read more about picking, choosing, storing and cooking with seasonal produce)
Vegetables: green beans, beetroot, broccoli, brussels sprouts, cabbage, sweet peppers, carrots, cauliflower, celery, chives, baby marrows, cucumber, endive, leeks, garlic, lettuce, mushrooms, onion, parsnips, potatoes, pumpkin, radishes, spinach, gem squash, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, turnips and peas
Herbs: mint, sage, thyme, marjoram, oreganum, rosemary, fennel, bay leaves, parsley
Fruit: avocados, apples, bananas, oranges, lemons, grapefruit guavas, paw-paw, pineapples, cape gooseberry, sharon fruit.
What are your favourite ingredients to cook with in May? Mail me at hannahlewry@gmail.com
Hannah
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Hannah